Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of investigating and studying the incidence and impacts of Lyme disease and its associated co-infections in the commonwealth.  Said study shall include, but not be limited to, a cost-benefit analysis of: (i) establishing a research institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, tasked with developing more accurate diagnostic tests for Lyme disease and associated co-infections and improving health outcomes for patients who are late to care; (ii) conducting a Lyme disease public health clinical screening study in high risk regions; (iii) developing education materials and training resources for clinical providers and school health personnel for detecting signs and symptom of tick-borne illnesses in school-aged populations; and (iv) statewide surveillance and testing for tick-borne diseases in ticks.  The commission shall also investigate the availability of grants and federal funds made available for the study of Lyme disease and associated co-infections, review any changes made to the 2006 Infectious Disease Society of America’s Lyme disease treatment guidelines in response to the Connecticut Attorney General’s investigation into the development of said guidelines, and investigate the issue of chronic Lyme disease and its treatment.

Said commission shall consist of: 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom  shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; the commissioner of the division of health care finance and policy or a designee; the commissioner of higher education or a designee;; the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School or a designee; the Dean of the College of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst or a designee; the director of the state laboratory institute or a designee; the state epidemiologist or a designee; a member of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine; and 4 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Cape and Islands Lyme Disease Task Force, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts chapter of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, and 2 members who shall be considered experts in the treatment or research of Lyme disease

Said commission shall report to the senate and house of representative the results of its investigation and study, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, who shall forward the same to the joint committee on public health and the house and senate committees on ways and means by May 1, 2011.