SECTION 1. There shall be a special task force to monitor, review and report on the economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on small businesses in Massachusetts. The task force shall consist of 12 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committees on small business and economic development or designees, who shall serve as the 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 secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development or a designee; 1 member of the Massachusetts office of business development appointed by the secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development; the president of the Massachusetts restaurant association or a designee; and the president of the associated industries of Massachusetts or a designee.

The task force shall: (i) identify and review how small businesses have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic; (ii) identify the long term financial impacts of coronavirus on small businesses; (iii) review the state and federal laws, regulations, and administrative directives that have been put in place to provide financial support to small businesses during the pandemic; (iv) examine the barriers posed to small businesses when attempting to access technical support from state and federal resources; and (v) develop policy recommendations to address the short and long term financials impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on small businesses, including, but not limited to, how the state can support them in accessing state and federal resources.

The task force shall convene within one month of the passage of this act. The task force shall submit a report with recommendations regarding how to help small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, including any draft legislation and regulations, to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate within 6 months of the passage of this act.