It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 2-14-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 2-14 entitled "Tree Warden" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 2-14-2. Appointment by town council or mayor. -- ADD} Every town council at its regular meeting in January of each year, and the mayor of every city on or before February 1 each year, shall appoint a tree warden who shall be, or who within six (6) months of his assuming office shall become, an "arborist", licensed under chapter 19 of this title, to engage in the business or practice of all phases of tree care, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the planting, pruning, trimming, spraying, or repairing of fruit, shade, forest and ornamental trees and shrubs; provided, however, that in the event a town or city does not have a resident who is, or who is about to become an "arborist" as herein defined, then the mayor of that city or the town council of such town may appoint a resident who is not presently nor is about to become an "arborist" its tree warden subject to approval as herein provided. The town clerk of the town, or the city clerk of the city for which a tree warden is appointed shall forthwith notify the director of environmental management of the appointment, and no appointment shall take effect until it has been approved by the director and approval has been certified by him to the town clerk or the city clerk, as the case may be. In case the director of environmental management shall disapprove of any appointment he shall forthwith notify the town clerk of the town, or the city clerk of the city, for which the appointment was made, of his disapproval and the town council of the town, or the mayor of the city, as the case may be, shall proceed to make another appointment and the town clerk or city clerk shall send notice thereof to the director and the same proceeding shall be had until an appointment is approved by the director of environmental management.

{ADD The residency requirement of the arborist as provided in this chapter shall not apply to the town of Hopkinton, and the town council is hereby authorized to appoint a non-residence arborist subject to the approval of the director of environmental management. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.