Resolved, There shall be a special commission consisting of 13 members for the purpose of studying the issue of telephone and internet scams targeting elderly residents of the Commonwealth.   The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure who shall serve as co-chairs; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; the president of the senate or a designee; the house minority leader or a designee, the senate minority leader or a designee; the undersecretary of the executive office of consumer affairs and business regulation or a designee; the secretary of elder affairs or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts chiefs of police association or a designee; the president of the district attorneys association or a designee, the president of the Massachusetts retailers association or a designee, 1 member shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council; and 1 member shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Chapter of AARP.  The commission shall explore the reasons why elders are targeted by scammers and identify methods and techniques to protect elders from falling prey to scam tactics.  Due diligence by the commission shall include but not be limited to studying and making recommendations on the following prevention methods: a master registry of gift cards, a final check at retail sale of gift cards, a public education and awareness campaign, the use of technology to prevent such crimes.

The commission shall present to the executive office of elder affairs and the general court its findings its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing them with the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate, who shall forward the same to the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure and the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before June 30, 2020.  The commission’s role shall be advisory in nature, and its recommendations, decisions, and actions shall not be binding on the executive branch or the legislative branch.  Upon acceptance of their report, the special commission shall be dissolved.