SECTION 1.  (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby established a special commission to study the legislative process with the goal of improving transparency and increasing public access to legislative initiatives in the commonwealth.

(b)  The commission shall consist of 15 members, 4 of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader and 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on rules; 4 of whom shall be members of the senate,  2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader and 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on rules; the clerk of the house of representatives, or a designee; the clerk of the senate, or a designee; the chief information officer of the general court, or a designee;  and 4 members appointed by the governor

(c)  The commission shall: (i) examine and report on barriers to transparency and public access to the legislative process; (ii) examine best practices learned from similar efforts undertaken by legislative bodies in other states and at the federal level; and (iii) identify opportunities to promote transparency and public access to the legislative process in the commonwealth. The commission may hold hearings and invite testimony from experts and the public.

(d)  The commission shall issue a report detailing its recommendations to the general court together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations and file said report with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives on or before June 15, 2017.