SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission on advanced practice nursing. For the purposes of this commission, advanced practice nurses shall mean nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and psychiatric clinical nurse specialists. The commission shall make a report and recommendations regarding advanced practice nursing including, but not limited to, the supply and demand for advanced practice nursing services, the barriers to practice, the cost-effectiveness of advanced practice nursing and strategies to further develop the role of advanced practice nurses in improving access to primary care, obstetrical and gynecological care, anesthesia care and mental health services.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of 18 members as follows: 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be designated as co-chair and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be designated as co-chair and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; the secretary of health and human services or his designee; the commissioner of public health or his designee; the director of Medicaid or his designee; the chairperson of the board of registration in nursing or his designee; and 8 persons to be appointed by the co-chairs, 1 each from a list of nominees to be submitted by each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives, the Massachusetts Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, Nurses United for Responsible Services, the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses and the Massachusetts Center for Nursing.

SECTION 3. The commission may recommend legislation or regulatory changes and shall file its report and recommendations with the governor and the chairs of the joint committee on public health, the joint committee on health care financing and the house and senate committees on ways and means within 5 months after the effective date of this act.