HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 936        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 419

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Edward R. Philips

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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 establishing an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 936        FILED ON: 1/17/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 419

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4226 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act establishing an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

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. Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after Section 71 the following section:

Section 72. Advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

a)There shall be an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The commission shall consist of thirteen members, two of whom shall be the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies or their designee, two of whom shall be the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health or their designee, one of whom shall be the House minority leader or their designee, one of whom shall be the Senate minority leader or their designee, and seven of whom shall be appointed by the governor. Of the seven members appointed by the governor, one shall be the President of the National Society of Black Engineers- Boston Professionals or their designee, one shall be the President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts or their designee, one shall be the President of Women in the Enterprise of Science & Technology (WEST) or their designee, one shall be the President of the Broad Institute or their designee, one shall be a public health specialist employed by a hospital or the commonwealth from a list of not less than three nominees provided by the Massachusetts Hospital Association, one shall be the President of MassBio or their designee, one shall be the President of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers- Boston Professionals or their designee.

(b) All such appointments shall be for terms of three years from the date of appointment, with successors appointed in a like manner. The governor may remove an appointed member of the commission prior to the conclusion of their term if said member (i) is guilty of malfeasance in office; (ii) substantially neglects the duties of a member of the commission; (iii) is unable to discharge the powers and duties of their office; (iv) commits gross misconduct; or (v) is convicted of a felony. When a vacancy occurs on the commission, a new member fulfilling the requirements established in subsection (a) shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.

(c) The commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair and any other officers it may deem necessary. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

(d) The commission shall include persons of color and women, at least in such proportion as these groups exist in the commonwealth’s population as periodically determined by the state secretary as the commonwealth’s chief census officer. The members of the commission shall represent a variety of subfields contained within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(e) The commission shall meet monthly and at other times as it shall deem necessary or upon the written request of three members of the commission or the chair; provided, however, that notice of all meetings shall be given to each commissioner and to other persons who request such notice. The commission shall adopt regulations establishing procedures, which may include electronic communications, by which a request to receive notice shall be made and the method by which timely notice may be given.

(f) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The commission shall consider any matter germane to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and shall file its recommendations, if any, from time to time, with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives together with proposals for legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.

(g) The commission shall have the following responsibilities:

(i) to review and analyze proposed legislation and regulatory changes and to report to the governor, his executive secretaries, and to the general court on the commission’s evaluation of the scientific integrity –  defined herein as insulation from bias, political interference, and inadequate procedural security, and the adherence to objective, clear, and reproducible practices when conducting, reporting, and applying the results of scientific activities – of said legislation and regulations;

(ii) to offer feedback, modifications, and suggestions to the general court on proposed legislation in order to enhance the efficacy of the bills brought the floor of the legislature;

(iii) to act as an independent advocate for the interests of the commonwealth’s scientists, technology specialists, engineers, and mathematicians in their relations with state and federal governments;

(iv) to meet with the governor at such other times as the governor deems necessary;

(v) to meet with legislative leadership at such times as legislative leadership deems necessary;

(vi) to promulgate rules and regulations governing its procedures; and

(vii) to perform such other like services as the commission shall decide upon.

(h) The commission may request information and assistance from state agencies as the commission requires.