A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Taunton, Massachusetts Study Act''.

 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, has--
                    (A) 9 distinct historic districts, including--
                            (i) the Church Green Historic District;
                            (ii) the Courthouse Historic District;
                            (iii) the Taunton Green Historic District; 
                        and
                            (iv) the Reed and Barton Historic District; 
                        and
                    (B) more than 600 properties on the National 
                Register of Historic Places;
            (2) all 9 historic districts in the city include buildings 
        and building facades that are of great historical, cultural, 
        and architectural significance;
            (3) Taunton Green is the site at which the Sons of Liberty 
        first raised the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event that 
        helped spark the movement culminating in the American 
        Revolution;
            (4) beginning with the American Revolution and in 
        subsequent wars, the citizens of Taunton have been among the 
        first to volunteer for service;
            (5) Robert Treat Paine, a resident of Taunton, was--
                    (A) the first Attorney General of Massachusetts; 
                and
                    (B) a signer of the Declaration of Independence;
            (6) Taunton was--
                    (A) a leading community in the Industrial 
                Revolution; and
                    (B) the site of many innovations in--
                            (i) the manufacturing of silver and paper; 
                        and
                            (ii) shipbuilding;
            (7) Frederick Law Olmsted--
                    (A) designed the landscaping of the Courthouse 
                Green; and
                    (B) prepared landscaping ideas and plans for other 
                areas in the city that have great value and interest as 
                historical archives and objects of future study;
            (8) Main Street, which connects many of the historic 
        districts, is home to--
                    (A) the Taunton City Hall and the Leonard Block 
                building, 2 outstanding examples of early 19th Century 
                American architecture; and
                    (B) many other historically and architecturally 
                significant structures;
            (9) the city and the residents of Taunton have preserved 
        many artifacts, gravesites, and important documents dating back 
        to 1638, when Taunton was founded; and
            (10) Taunton was and continues to be an important 
        destination for immigrants from Europe and other parts of the 
        world who have contributed to the unique ethnic character of 
        Southeastern Massachusetts.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) City.--The term ``city'' means the city of Taunton, 
        Massachusetts.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
        Massachusetts.

 SEC. 4. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with State historic 
preservation officers, State historical societies, the city, and other 
appropriate organizations, shall conduct a study of certain historic 
buildings and areas in the city to determine the suitability and 
feasibility of designating the historic buildings and areas as a unit 
of the National Park System.
    (b) Requirements.--The study required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) be conducted and completed in accordance with section 
        8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. la-5(c)); and
            (2) include analysis, documentation, and determinations on 
        whether the historic areas in Taunton--
                    (A) can be collectively managed, curated, 
                interpreted, restored, preserved, and presented by--
                            (i) the National Park Service; or
                            (ii) an alternative management structure;
                    (B) have an assemblage of cultural, historic, and 
                natural resources that together represent distinctive 
                aspects of the heritage of the United States worthy of 
                recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 
                continuing use;
                    (C) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and 
                historical events that are a valuable part of the story 
                of the United States;
                    (D) provide outstanding--
                            (i) opportunities to conserve 
                        architectural, cultural, historical, natural, 
                        or scenic features; and
                            (ii) recreational and educational 
                        opportunities; and
                    (E) can be managed by the National Park Service, in 
                partnership with residents of the city, business 
                interests, nonprofit organizations, and State and local 
                governments, as a unit of the National Park System in a 
                manner that is consistent with State and local economic 
                activity.

 SEC. 5. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are 
first made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that 
describes--
            (1) the findings of the study; and
            (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

Summary: Taunton, Massachusetts Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas in the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System.