Bill > S722

This bill establishes a three-year moratorium, meaning a temporary halt, on the issuance of comprehensive permits, which are special approvals granted under sections 20 to 23 of chapter 40B of the General Laws, a law designed to encourage the development of affordable housing. During this moratorium, a special nine-member commission will be formed to investigate the use and effectiveness of this comprehensive permit law. This commission will include designees from key state secretariats like Administration and Finance, Housing and Economic Development, and Transportation, along with legislative appointees from both the Senate and House of Representatives, representing leadership and relevant committee chairs. The commission's mandate is to study how well the comprehensive permit law promotes affordable housing and its effects on local planning, holding public hearings in each county to gather testimony before submitting a report with findings and recommendations for potential changes by December 31, 2015.