SECTION 1. Chapter 151 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end  thereof the following new section:—

Section 23.  The department shall perform a study evaluating the effectiveness of the first stage of wage increases on unemployment rates in the commonwealth.  The study shall be conducted by the director of the department of labor and workforce, or their designee, who shall serve as chair, the director of the department of unemployment assistance, or their designee, the director of the department of revenue, or their designee, the director of the division of labor standards, or their designee, and four members of the public representing business owners across the commonwealth, appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates chosen by the National Federation of Independent Business, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. The study shall analyze the effectiveness of the current minimum wage on the cost of living in the commonwealth and the effect of the increased minimum wage on job creation and unemployment rates.

The chair shall file a report with the clerk of the House of Representatives and the clerk of the Senate on or before May 1 2017. The report shall include recommendations regarding any change in the minimum wage for the following year.