HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 250 FILED ON: 12/30/2008
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 745
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
William G. Greene, Jr.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to property damage caused by beaver.
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PETITION OF:
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Name:
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District/Address:
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William G. Greene, Jr.
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22nd Middlesex
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Cory Atkins
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14th Middlesex
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Colleen M. Garry
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36th Middlesex
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[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 762 OF .]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
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An Act relative to property damage caused by beaver.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 131 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in th
e 2006
Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 80A:— Section 80B: Notwithstanding the provisions of c. 131 §80A, the division of fisheries and wildlife within the depart
ment of fish and game is hereby authorized to conduct a limited pilot program to determine the most effective way to achieve a healthy and balanced population of beaver. The program shall be limited to the following counties: Berkshire; Essex; Franklin; Ha
mpshire; Middlesex; and Worcester.
The division shall promulgate such rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of this section. Records of the number of animals taken, the number of public nuisance complaints received, the method
of taking, and the location of taking, shall be maintained by the division and reported annually to the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow the use of the steel jaw leghold trap, padded
leghold trap, and/or snares.
The pilot program and department powers enumerated in this section shall expire on January 1, 20
11
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