The Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation is launching a group to assess the accessibility of hiking trails in the state and make recommendations for improving and expanding them.

Meg Bandarra, from Unpaved trails for everyonesaid what stands out about this new group are its members.

“This will include people with lived experience of disability for the first time in a truly meaningful way, resulting in better access, better affordability, better analysis and better plans for the future,” Bandarra said.

The Office of Outdoor Recreation is hosting an event in Russell early next month to celebrate the launch of the Trail Access Task Force.

State Senate bill S.446 would form a similar group, but this was not adopted. An additional invoice, H.769was presented to the House.

Bandarra said the legislation, if it becomes law, would go further than creating the task force. This would make it a state policy to ensure access to the outdoors for people with disabilities.

“While this initiative is great, it keeps this type of work more on an individual basis and more on an agency basis, rather than establishing a statewide policy,” Bandarra said.

Bandarra said she would continue to advocate for the bill and that there were not enough places for people with disabilities and others, including seniors, young families and people with limited mobility.

According to a spokesperson for the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which includes the Office of Outdoor Recreation, the police director was not available for an interview Friday.