SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be established a special commission to study and report on the advertising practices of the solar energy industry. The commission shall be composed of 7 members: 2 members of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; 2 members of the Senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Senate President and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and 3 members appointed by the Governor; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the solar energy industry, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the utility companies, and 1 of whom shall be an expert in the area of advertising and marketing law.

The scope of the commission shall include, but shall not be limited to studying the advertising practices of businesses and the major players in the solar energy industry, discovering any fraudulent or deceptive advertising or trade practices carried out by players in the solar energy industry, and making recommendations on changes, legislative and otherwise, to ensure that prospective and current consumers of the solar energy industry are adequately protected.

(b) The commission shall report the results of its investigation and its recommendations by filing a report with the Clerk of the Senate; the Clerk of the House of Representatives; the Department of Energy Resources; the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Licensure; and the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy no later than one year after the first meeting of the commission is convened.

(c) The commission shall conduct its first meeting no later than 60 days after the effective date of this act.