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HD 1385

An Act relative to reasonable Mass Wildlife Board expense reimbursement

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Leigh Davis

Mass Wildlife Board serves without compensation but can be reimbursed for actual travel and official expenses, capped at $30,000 in total aggregate per fiscal year.

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Bill Summary · HD 1385

Summary: An Act relative to reasonable Mass Wildlife Board expense reimbursement (HD 1385)

Overview

This proposed Massachusetts bill seeks to clarify and limit reimbursements for expenses incurred by members of the Mass Wildlife Board. It would replace the existing Section 1D of Chapter 131 with new language providing for expense reimbursement without compensation, subject to an annual cap.

Purpose and Intent

  • Ensure board members are not paid a salary (no compensation), but may be reimbursed for necessary travel and other official duties expenses.
  • Establish an explicit annual cap on reimbursements to control public expenditures related to Mass Wildlife Board activities.

Key Provisions

  • Replaces existing Section 1D in Chapter 131 with new language.
  • Board members shall serve without compensation.
  • Members may be reimbursed, from funds available for the purpose, for actual traveling and other expenses necessarily incurred in performing official duties.
  • Reimbursement is capped: no more than $30,000 in total aggregate expenses for all board members in a given fiscal year.

Affected Parties

  • Mass Wildlife Board members (reimbursement recipients).
  • Commonwealth funds designated for board expenses (source of reimbursement).
  • Administrative offices handling travel and expense reimbursements for the Mass Wildlife Board.

Financial and Policy Implications

  • Introduces a hard cap ($30,000 per fiscal year) on total board expense reimbursements.
  • Clarifies that reimbursement is for actual costs associated with duties, not compensation.
  • Potentially affects budgeting for board activities by requiring expenses come from pre-appropriated funds set aside for this purpose.

Implementation and Timeline

  • The text reflects a statutory amendment to Chapter 131, Section 1D.
  • Enactment would depend on the legislative process (committee review, passage by both chambers, and signature by the Governor). The document indicates the bill is a proposed measure for the 2025-2026 session.
  • The version provided indicates a filing date of January 14, 2025 (House Docket No. 923). Note: there is a discrepancy in dates within materials (user-provided date vs. filing date in the text).

Historical Context

  • Similar matter filed in a previous session: House Bill 4306 (2023-2024), suggesting ongoing interest in clarifying Mass Wildlife Board reimbursements.

Status Note

  • The provided materials do not specify final status (passage, committee assignments, or Governor action). The content outlines a legislative proposal rather than a enacted law.

If you’d like, I can add a comparison to how other Massachusetts boards handle reimbursements or provide a brief summary of the potential fiscal impact based on typical board activity.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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