SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission established to examine the advisability of the commonwealth joining the Nurse Licensure Compact and or the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The commission’s examination shall include, but not be limited to, the advantages and disadvantages of interstate licensure compacts on access to health services; their impact, if any, on the healthcare workforce and the advancement of telemedicine services; and the subsequent effects, if any, on current administrative, licensing, and regulatory processes.

The commission shall consist of 8 members: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives, or a designee; the senate president, or a designee; the minority leader of the house of representatives, or a designee; the minority leader of the senate, or a designee; the chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, or a designee; and two members to be appointed by the governor, one of whom must be a health policy expert, and one of whom must be an expert on health insurance.

The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any draft of legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate within 180 days of the passage of this act.