There is hereby established a special legislative commission to study the use, disposal and potential re-use of durable medical equipment in hospitals and health care facilities under the jurisdiction of the commonwealth.

The commission shall consist of 13 members: 2 of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission; 2 of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public health; the secretary of elder affairs or a designee; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; the director of MassHealth or a designee; and 6 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a member of the board of allied health professionals, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc., and 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals, Inc..

All appointments shall be made no later than 14 days following the effective date of this act. The co-chairs shall convene the first meeting of the special commission within 21 days of all appointments being made.

The special commission shall meet a minimum of 4 times. The special commission shall submit its findings, along with recommendations for legislation, to the governor and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate no later than 180 days after the effective date of this act.