There shall be a task force to examine and make recommendations on rate parity and equity for contracted emergency homeless shelters. The task force shall consist of 9 members: the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on housing or designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 4 members of the Massachusetts housing and shelter alliance, appointed by the alliance’s executive director, 2 of whom shall be representatives of a member agency operating in a gateway city, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a member agency operating in the city of boston, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a member agency; and the undersecretary of housing and community development or designee, who may ask for assistance as needed from the department and the commonwealth’s quasi-public housing agencies. The chairs may, at their discretion, name additional members representing stakeholder organizations and/or consult informally with such stakeholders.

The task force’s scope shall include, but not be limited to, the study of existing disparities in rates paid by the commonwealth to contracted emergency homeless shelters, and recommendations to implement and sustain rate parity for contracted emergency homeless shelters across the commonwealth. The task force shall file a report containing its findings and recommendations, including draft legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on housing and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than 180 days after enactment.