SECTION 1. Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:

Section 63.  There shall be established a Motor Carrier Safety Council, which shall serve as a forum for improving the efficiency, safety, routing and motor transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous products throughout the Commonwealth.

The council shall:

(1) make recommendations to eliminate the duplication of work and creating efficiencies among various state agencies;

(2) consider and recommend possible safety improvements through enforcement, routing or administrative improvements;

(3) encourage the consolidation of the state’s efforts to regulate and oversee the operation of the commercial motor vehicles in the state by reviewing the feasibility of consolidating the issuing of the forms, decals, permits, registrations, licenses and approvals required for the operation of commercial motor vehicles in the state from a central location;

(4) consider the intrastate and interstate effects of state policies on the ability of Massachusetts motor carriers to compete with motor carriers based in other states; and

(5) consider and make recommendations concerning any other matter deemed relevant by the council.

The Motor Carrier Safety Council shall consist of the following voting members: a representative from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; a representative of the Massachusetts Department of the State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section; a representative from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles; a representative from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; a representative from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts; a member from the Massachusetts Movers Association; and a member from the Massachusetts Motor Transportation Association.  The Regional Director from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shall be invited to be a part of the council ex officio. The council shall elect a chairman, at the initial meeting of the committee, from its members who shall serve for a period co-terminus with the governor. The chairman, or his/her designee, shall be responsible to organize each meeting, notify the members, formulate the agenda, provide a copy of the minutes following the meeting and such other duties as may be required. The council shall only make recommendations or take actions by a majority vote of all members present and voting.

The council may make recommendations as the council deems appropriate to the governor, the general court or any related state agencies. The council shall convene a meeting:

(1) prior to, or immediately after, the commencement of each regular session of the general court concerning legislative proposals of the various state agencies and the representatives of the motor carrier industry;

(2) after the close of each regular session of the general court concerning the impacts and implementation of any legislation affecting the motor carrier industry; and

(3) at the call of the chairman or any other council member, provided the council shall meet, notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, at least quarterly. The council shall solicit input from representatives of motor carrier related industries. Such representatives shall include, but not be limited to, the New England Bus Association (NEBA), the School Transportation Association of Massachusetts (STAM), the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, and the Massachusetts Petroleum Council.