AI-assisted research summary: This section defines study committees and commissions, sets membership and reporting rules, and gives each a sunset or repeal deadline.
I. (a) For the purpose of this paragraph, "study committee" shall mean a committee, commission, task force, council, or any other similar entity established by the general court in chapter law to study or otherwise address a specified issue, and shall not include any similar entities that are codified in statute. (b) Every study committee which is established by the general court shall be repealed either upon the filing of a final report or on November 1 in the even-numbered year prior to the beginning of the subsequent biennial session, whichever is earlier. (c) The membership of a study committee established by the general court shall be limited to members of the general court only. (d) The chairperson of a study committee established by the general court shall, in addition to any other reporting requirements, electronically file the final report with the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate, and the clerks of the respective bodies shall post the report on the general court website. The clerks of the respective bodies shall then send a copy of the report to the standing committee of each body with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the report. II. (a) For the purpose of paragraph II, "commission" shall mean a committee, commission, task force, council, or any other similar entity established by the general court and codified in the Revised Statutes Annotated for a specific term to study or otherwise address a specified issue, and shall not include any similar entities that are not a study committee as defined in paragraph I. (b) The term of the commission shall be specified and the commission's statutory authorization shall be repealed no later than 5 years after the date it becomes effective, unless subsequent legislation is passed to extend the commission's existence. (c) No commission shall have more than 15 members and may include appointees who are not members of the general court. The legislative members of the commission shall constitute a majority of the commission. The term of members of the general court who serve on a commission shall be coterminous with their term in office, unless they are appointed in a capacity other than their legislative office. (d) In addition to any other reporting requirements, the chairperson of each commission established by the general court shall electronically file the final report with the clerk of the house of representatives or clerk of the senate, and the clerks of the respective bodies shall post the report on the general court website. The clerks of the respective bodies shall then send a copy of the report to the standing committee of each body with jurisdiction over the subject matter of the report. (e) [Repealed.] Source: Source. 1993, 343:1. 2010, 232:1. 2011, 163:1, eff. Aug. 13, 2011. 2022, 323:31, eff. Sept. 6, 2022. 2024, 322:5, IV, eff. Aug. 2, 2024.