Prohibits a skier from skiing in any area unless such skier is wearing a protective helmet; applicable to skiers under fourteen years of age

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dan Stec

The bill designates Farragut Park in South Boston and its field as Rosher ~ McCathy Field, officially naming them after Admiral Farragut and local honorees.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Summary — S.545 (Massachusetts): An Act relative to Admiral David G. Farragut Park

Status: Introduced (filed 01/17/2025); read twice and referred to Judiciary (02/12/2025). Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Rules (07/03/2025). Hearing scheduled 04/08/2025. Presented by Senator Nick Collins.

Note on inconsistencies: Some provided metadata (a separate helmet law title, a long list of federal senators as sponsors, related federal bill numbers) appear to be erroneous or mismatched with the bill text. The legislative text below and this summary are based on the bill text filed in the Massachusetts Senate (S.545, Senate Docket No. 2561).

Purpose
- To formally name a Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) park in South Boston after Admiral David G. Farragut and to formally name a specific field within that park after two local individuals.

Key provisions
- Formal park name: The DCR-managed park located in the South Boston section of the City of Boston — bounded by Farragut Road and Day Boulevard, and East Broadway and Shore Road — is to be formally known as "Farragut Park," named after Admiral David G. Farragut.
- Formal field name: The field at Farragut Park behind Evans Field, running from the Francis L. Murphy Memorial Rink to Shore Road, is to be formally known as "Rosher ~ McCathy Field," named after Mr. Walter Rosher and Mr. Gerard McCarthy. (The bill text uses the phrasing “Rosher ~ McCathy Field”; readers should consult the enrolled bill for final punctuation/spelling.)

Who is affected
- Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR): required to recognize and use the formal names in official signage, maps, publications, and administrative records.
- City of Boston and local community groups: updates to local planning documents, wayfinding, recreation guides, and public information may be needed.
- Honorees and community: formal public recognition of Admiral Farragut and the named individuals (Walter Rosher and Gerard McCarthy).

Fiscal and operational impact
- The bill is purely nominal; it does not appropriate funds or create new programs. Potential minor costs could arise from producing and installing new signs, updating maps and websites, and other administrative changes — typically absorbed within existing DCR or municipal budgets unless otherwise provided.

Timing and implementation
- The bill text does not specify an effective date. If enacted without a special provision, the naming would take effect according to the Commonwealth’s standard rules for effective dates (typically upon enactment or a date specified in the act).
- Procedural history: Filed 01/17/2025; referred/read and committee actions occurred in February–July 2025, with a public hearing scheduled for 04/08/2025 and a favorable committee report by 07/03/2025.

Notes and caveats
- The submission contains conflicting metadata (a helmet requirement title and a list of federal sponsors) that do not match the Massachusetts bill text filed by Senator Nick Collins. This summary reflects the text of S.545 as filed in the Massachusetts Senate. If you need confirmation of final spellings/formatting (e.g., the field name punctuation or honorees’ names), consult the enrolled bill or the legislative clerk’s office.