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A group of environmental activists rally outside the State House on Feb. 26, 2014 in support of a bill to divest Massachusetts' pension fund from fossil fuel companies.

(SHIRA SCHOENBERG / THE REPUBLICAN)

BOSTON - The Massachusetts legislature this session declined to take a stance on divesting the state's pension fund from fossil fuel companies.

A vocal group of environmental activists had been pushing for the state to pass a bill, sponsored by state Sen. Benjamin Downing, a Pittsfield Democrat, divesting the state's money from fossil fuel companies. When it became clear in the final days of the session that the legislature would not pass such a bill, the coalition pushed instead for a study commission.

A substitute bill would have created an 11-member commission whose task would be to "evaluate the positive impact that divestment may have upon the environment and the fossil fuel industry, weighed against the potential risk that divestment may pose to the Commonwealth's pension funds and retirees."

The House approved the study commission bill by voice vote on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session. But the Senate declined to act before midnight.

Activists, however, say they will continue to push for the study commission to be created through informal legislative sessions, sessions in which the legislature can act on non-controversial bills that have unanimous support.

"We are saddened that the commission bill, uncontroversial and supported by leadership, did not pass due to the shortness of time allotted for the completion of legislative business," said Darcy Dumont, state divestment coordinator for the pro-divestment group 350 Massachusetts. "Because it is a commission bill, we will be pushing to have it enacted in an informal session in the near future."