SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority shall eliminate the designation Yawkey from the Yawkey commuter rail station on the Worcester–Framingham line.

SECTION 2.  (a) There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority regarding a new name for the Yawkey commuter rail station on the Worcester–Framingham line that is consistent with and reflects the values of the commonwealth.  The commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the Secretary of Transportation, or her designee, who will serve as the Commission’s chairperson; 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House; 2 members appointed by the Senate President; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 3 members appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be an expert in the history of the commonwealth with a particular expertise in racial justice; 1 of whom shall be a member of the community of the Fenway section of the city of Boston; and 1 of whom shall be an expert in the history of sports; the Owner of the Red Sox Organization or his designee; the President of the Boston Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or her designee; the President of the Boston Landmarks Commission, or her designee. 

(b) The commission may hold public meetings and fact-finding hearings as it considers necessary; provided, that the commission shall consider: (1) the commonwealth’s values of equal rights and social and economic justice and (2) individuals, communities, and organizations which advocate for said values.  The commission shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority not later than July 1, 2018.