Notwithstanding any special or general law there shall be a special commission to study the prevalence and prevention of child lead poisoning within the Commonwealth to develop recommendations on actions to prevent such lead poisoning in the future including, but not limited to legislative recommendations and administrative recommendations.

The special commission shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services, or their designee; three members to be appointed by the governor, which shall include: the commissioner of the department of public health , the commissioner of the department of public utilities, and one member of the general citizenry impacted by lead poisoning; two members of the House of Representatives, one of whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; and two members of the Senate, one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader; provided, however, that the first meeting of the commission shall take place not later than December 1, 2018.

Topics of research shall include, but not be limited to, the commonwealth’s compliance with the United States environmental protection agency’s renovation, repair, and painting program rules and the lead and copper rule; the efficiency of real estate surveys determining the presence of lead paint; emergency and legal response actions taken upon the notification of a child who has attained high levels of lead in the blood;  and prevention of the spread of lead contaminants throughout school systems.

The special commission shall submit its recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation, to the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the chairs of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse not later than December 1, 2017.