Section 1. There shall be a special task force to review and report on the economic impact of welfare reform in the state of Massachusetts. The task force shall consist of 10 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committees on economic development and emerging technologies and labor and workforce development, or their designees, who shall serve as the co-chairs of the task force; a member of the general court appointed by the senate minority leader; a member of the general court appointed by the house minority leader; the executive director of the Massachusetts Workforce Development Board, or a designee; the executive director of the RaiseUp Massachusetts, or a designee; and 2 persons to be appointed by the secretary of labor and workforce development, 1 of whom shall be an employee of the commonwealth in the office of the secretary of labor and workforce development, and 1 of whom shall be selected from the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Economic Development Council .

The task force shall: (i) identify and review the state laws, regulations, and administrative directives that relate to welfare; (ii) review the connection between the low unemployment rate as well as the current need for employees in key Massachusetts labor sectors and identify the welfare minimum eligibility requirements potentially impeding employment; (iii) identify and propose new welfare eligibility requirements based on updated economic and labor statistics; and (iv) develop recommendations to establish legislative procedures that reduce citizens on welfare while maintaining a low unemployment rate in the state of Massachusetts.

The task force shall submit a report, including any draft legislation and regulations, to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate within 12 months of the passage of this act.