SECTION 1.               Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, a special commission hereafter referred to as the commission, is hereby established for the purpose of investigating the public health effects and safety of electric and magnetic fields emanating from overhead or other electric transmission wires.  The commission shall investigate but not limited to assessing any risks to health that may exist from exposure to electric and magnetic fields. 

The commission shall be appointed by the governor, shall consist of twelve members must have the follow individuals: the House and Senate chairmen of the joint committee on telecommunications and energy who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission, one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker, one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate,  a representative of the Department of Environmental Protection a representative from Department of Public Utilities, a representative from the Department of Public Health, a representative from the American Cancer Society, a representative from the Environmental League of Massachusetts, and a representative from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The commission shall meet and may hold hearings and invite testimony from experts and the public.  The commission shall report to the general court the results of its study, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the House of Representatives on or before December 31, 2012.