SENATE DOCKET, NO. 828        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2078

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis, (BY REQUEST)

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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 for improving boards and commissions.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 828        FILED ON: 2/8/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2078

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1875 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

An Act for improving boards and commissions.

 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. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the

 following new chapter: An Act to Improve the Functioning of Various Boards and Commissions.

 LEGISLATION PURPOSES

 1.) The Office of Boards and Commissions, within the Executive Office for

 Administration and Finance, shares, and helps perform, the important tasks related to filling

 appointments, in over 700 Boards and Commissions. While the performance, has improved,

 there are certain additional abilities, that can be added, in order to improve the filling of

 appointments, the renewal of appointments, and the more complete membership of especially

 important bodies. This legislation is created, to add these powers, and opportunities, to The

 Office of Boards and Commissions.

 2.) Whereas, the various Boards, and Commissions, of Massachusetts, have been created

 over time, to accomplish a variety of public tasks, and decisions, in a manner that allows

 informed consideration, deliberation, and decision making.

 3.) Whereas, a large and persistent problem has continued, of the nature that members,

 and memberships of many of the said Boards, and Commissions, have failed of renewal,

 appointment, and/or reappointment, often leaving boards absent of quorums, and/or ability to

 make legally binding decisions.

 4.) Therefore, this legislation sets the following requirements, in order to improve the

 functioning of boards, and commissions, and the quality of legally-binding decisions:

 A general Registry Of Available Volunteer Board and Commission Members, for

 appointment, shall be created; as a mechanism to recruit individuals capable of service on such

 bodies. This Registry will engage in regular and suitable publicity, and recruitment activities,

 through all forms of media, printed, broadcast, electronic, and social media, seeking competent

 professionals, talented career individuals, and general citizens, with both specific and general

 skills. These publicity efforts should include, regular News Releases, and Public Service

 Announcements (PSAs) for general distribution.

 As individuals are identified, suitable personnel screenings, shall be conducted, to

 establish eligibility for this Registry.

 Once individuals are determined to be qualified for various bodies, they may be

 identified, also, as particularly qualified, for particular bodies.

 As this roster is compiled for the Registry, it should be updated on a yearly basis.

 All winning, and losing, candidates for any elected public office in Massachusetts, shall

 be contacted, and may be included in such a list(s) of potential appointees, since they, by being

 candidates for public office, have indicated an interest in aspects of public service.

 All members, of all existing Boards and Commissions, shall be annually queried by

 postal mail, and other means, as to the continuing nature of their activity as a member, their

 interest in remaining as a member, such thoughts as they may have in the continuation of their

 service, and of the Board, or Commission, of which they are a member; and also ideas about

 effective recruitment of members such as themselves, including the names of other capable

 and/or talented individuals.

 In the cases of those Boards, and Commissions, which intersect with, or relate to decision

 making on the licensure, or the determination of conduct of professional paid activities,

 employment, or activities; and meeting at least every three (3) months, a nominal stipend of three

 (3) hours per meeting, of the equivalent value of the Minimum Wage, may be compensated to

 members, if so authorized by the General Court.