SECTION 1. Chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

SECTION X. There is hereby established a special commission to investigate, study and identify any deficiencies of an emergency response plans for each electric and gas utility provider which conducts business in the Commonwealth. Said commission shall also provide each utility company recommendations of ways to improve such plans to ensure the health and safety of the residents of the Commonwealth.

The commission shall consist of the commissioner of the department of public utilities, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 person to be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall be a representative of a metropolitan planning organization; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, who shall be a representative of the Utility Contractors’ Association of New England ; 1 person to be appointed by the speaker of the house, who shall be a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, who shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency; and 6 people to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be representatives of the department of public safety, 2 of whom shall be representatives of an electric utility, and 2 of whom shall be representatives of a gas utility, with expertise in the planning of gas construction projects.

The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the general court and each utility company studied, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out said recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives on or before March 1, 2020, or 1 year after the effective date of this act.

The members of the commission shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this act and shall serve until the completion of the investigation and study.