SENATE DOCKET, NO. 49        FILED ON: 1/4/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 215

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to corporate social responsibility.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 49        FILED ON: 1/4/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 215

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 191 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

An Act relative to corporate social responsibility.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special commission to investigate and study existing corporate social responsibility reporting performed by firms located in the commonwealth including but not limited to policies on diversity, social issues, charity, community service and impacts on the public health and the environment. The commission shall provide recommendations where the commonwealth can expand on reporting without undue regulatory burden, and how the commonwealth can assist companies in meeting corporate social responsibility reporting goals.

(b) The commission shall consist of 11 members, 1 of whom shall be the secretary of housing and economic development, or a designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the commission; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the secretary of the commonwealth; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the attorney general; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Massachusetts Business Roundtable; and 2 members to be appointed by the Governor who have expertise in corporate social responsibility advocacy.

(c) The commission shall file its report with the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies, the joint committee on community development and small businesses, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the house and senate clerks no later than December 31, 2020.