Resolved, That there shall be established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, a special legislative commission known as the Task Force on Civil Service Hiring Procedures.  The task force shall be comprised of the following 11 members: the house chair of the joint committee on public service; the senate chair of the joint committee on public service; the secretary of administration and finance or her designee; a member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; a member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 6 members with expertise on issues relating to public safety, civil service or veteran’s affairs to be appointed as follows: 2 members to be appointed by the governor, 2 members to be appointed by the president of the senate and 2 members to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The chairs of the joint committee on public service shall serve as co-chairs of the task force.

The task force shall conduct an investigation and study of the existing legal and regulatory framework governing: (a) the Civil Service Law, chapter 31 of the General Laws and (b) the regulations of the civil service commission. The task force shall confer with representatives of the various state offices responsible for overseeing the civil service laws, as well as with academics, practitioners and others with expertise in these areas.

The task force shall file a report with the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives regarding the results of its investigation and study on or before December 23, 2017.  The report shall include: (i) an assessment of the current legal and regulatory structures, education and training, advisories and processes; (ii) recommendations for amendments to any current law, rule or regulation; and (iii) recommendations for legislation, if any.