Recognizing the importance of statewide coordination of GIS activity in the Commonwealth, in 1999, the Massachusetts legislature extended the enabling legislation for the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs to include:

Chapter 21A: Section 4B Office of Geographic and Environmental Information (aka MassGIS)

Section 4B. There is hereby established within the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs an Office of Geographic and Environmental Information.  Subject to appropriation, it shall be the responsibility of said office to collect, consolidate, store and provide geographic and environmental information in order to improve stewardship of natural resources and the environment, promote economic development and guide land-use planning, risk assessment, emergency response and pollution control. In order to accomplish such purposes, the duties of said office shall include, but not be limited to:

  (a) fostering cooperation among local, state, regional and federal government agencies, academic institutions and the private sector in order to improve the quality, access, cost-effectiveness and utility of geographical and environmental information as a strategic resource for the state;

  (b) coordinating data sharing and executing data sharing agreements among all levels of government and private users;

  (c) identifying, developing, correcting, updating, distributing and assembling geographical and environmental data;

  (d) setting standards for the acquisition and management of geographical and environmental data by any agency, authority or other political subdivisions of the commonwealth;

  (e) providing technical assistance, training and computer hardware, software and programming to municipalities, regional agencies or political subdivisions of the commonwealth;

  (f) archiving and serving as a depository for geographical and environmental information and developing public access to and distribution of such information;

  (g) creating a network of regional service centers, subject to appropriation, to assist the commonwealth, its political subdivisions and the public in developing and using GIS technology and data;

  (h) requiring that all GIS data funded through grants in any part by the commonwealth shall conform to standards developed by the office and be made available for distribution;

  (i) creating a category of commonwealth resources of the natural, cultural and historical resources in need of protection;

  (j) establishing a competitive grants program, subject to appropriation, for municipalities and regional agencies;

  (k) setting up a geographic information advisory committee comprised of representatives from state agencies, regional and local entities, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and the private sector which shall provide an annual report for strengthening the geographic information system to the joint committee on natural resources and agriculture and the office; and

  (l) coordinating the development and dissemination of scientific and technical expertise to support an interagency, cross-disciplinary approach to natural resource management.

Last Updated 9/5/2006
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