Section 1. There shall be a special commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to investigate and study the most effective protocols for communication between municipal police departments, district attorneys’ offices, the Trial Court, and victims of violent crimes and their families. The commission shall develop Massachusetts Victims Assistance Recommendations, which shall include legislative recommendations and other policy recommendations for municipal police departments and district attorneys. The commission shall review and assess the methods of communication at each stage of a case, including but not limited to: 1) initial contact with victims or family, 2) during on-going investigation, 3) during any criminal proceedings related to the case, 4) during any cold case investigation, 5) during the incarceration of an offender, and 6) after an offender has been released.

The commission shall consist of: 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall serve as co-chair; the executive director of the Massachusetts office of victims assistance or a designee; the commissioner of probation or a designee; the commissioner of the department of Criminal Justice Information Services or a designee; the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; the attorney general or a designee; and 6 persons to be appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall represent local or state police departments in Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall have experience in the application or administration of trauma response services, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the committee for public counsel services. The commission shall convene not later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.

The commission shall submit a report, detailing the results of its investigation and study, any recommended legislative or regulatory action and a timeline for implementation to the governor and the clerks of the house and the senate not later than 180 days after the effective date of this act. The clerks of the house and the senate shall forward the report to the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.