SECTION 1. There shall be a special commission, known as the restaurant promotion commission to review and develop recommendations and best practices for the promotion and continued growth and vitality of the restaurant industry in the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of the following 11 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development; 3 persons to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 3 persons to be appointed by the president of the senate; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and the executive director of the Massachusetts office of travel and tourism, or their designee, who shall serve as chair of the commission.

The commission shall examine ways to increase promotion of and visitation to restaurants operating in the commonwealth, including but not limited to: challenges to maintaining and operating restaurants, including issues related to the training, development and retention of the industry’s workforce; barriers to establishing new restaurants; licensing and permitting issues impacting emerging business models; strategies for increased marketing to attract visitors to the commonwealth’s restaurants; and strategies for cross-promotional partnerships, including but not limited to partnerships with the hospitality, agriculture and seafood industries. The commission shall consider successful programs and national and local best practices.

The commission shall recommend programs for the use of the funds available in item 7008-1024. The commission shall hold its first meeting not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act and shall meet not less frequently than monthly thereafter. The commission shall hold meetings in various geographic regions of the commonwealth. The chair of the commission shall work to facilitate information and data requests of the commission members, ensure that the work of the commission incorporates feedback from the industry statewide and coordinate interagency cooperation. The commission shall submit a report of its review and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry those recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than January 31, 2020.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect as of July 1, 2019.