Bill > S2654

This bill establishes a Trail Access Advisory Council to improve outdoor trail accessibility for people with disabilities in Massachusetts. The council will consist of 11-14 members, including representatives from the state's energy and environmental affairs office, with at least one-third of members self-identifying as having a disability. Council members will serve three-year terms and may be eligible for compensation. The council's responsibilities include serving as a resource for trail accessibility, assessing the current status of trails throughout the state, holding public hearings, making policy recommendations to the legislature, and filing an annual report detailing trail accessibility. Additionally, the bill creates a Massachusetts Trail Access Fund to support the council's work, which can receive funding from public and private sources such as appropriations, gifts, grants, and donations. The first council members must be appointed within three months of the act's effective date, with the goal of ensuring more inclusive and accessible outdoor trails across the state.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2654