There shall be a special commission to review and make recommendations to update the public

records law. The commission shall consist of the governor or a designee; the secretary of state

or a designee; the attorney general or a designee; 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall

be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority

leader; and 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the

speaker of the house and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house. The

commission shall review the definition of public records in section 7 of chapter 4 of the General

Laws and chapter 66 of the General Laws to determine what amendments need to be made to

increase transparency in state government; provided, that the commission shall: (i) recommend

that the public records exemption for the general court in section 18 of said chapter 66 be

removed; (ii) clarify that the executive and judicial branches are subject to the public records

law; and (iii) recommend reasonable fees for the duplication of records by the public.

The commission shall hold a minimum of 3 public hearings and shall invite testimony from

experts and the public.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and

study and its recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out

such recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house of

representatives who shall forward the same to the chairs of the senate and house committees on

post audit and oversight on or before September 1, 2012.