Bill > S244

This bill establishes a new state agency called the Commonwealth Office of Rural Policy, which will be an independent public entity focused on improving the economic vitality and well-being of rural communities, defined as municipalities with fewer than 500 people per square mile. The office will be overseen by a seventeen-member Commission on Rural Policy, with appointments made by the governor, legislative leaders, and regional planning agencies, and its mission is to act as a resource for research and policy on issues affecting rural areas, advise the government on the impact of laws on these communities, advocate for rural needs, and promote collaboration among them. The commission will meet quarterly in different regions of the state, hold public meetings, and can accept funds and request information from other state agencies to carry out its duties, and it will report its findings and recommendations annually to the Governor and the Legislature.