SECTION 1.  (a) There shall be a special commission on micro-transit to study existing and emerging micro-transit services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and funding to: (i) benchmark different types of micro-transit operating models, including those operated by a regional transit authority and those operated by other entities, various types of micro-transit services, and populations dependent upon these services; (ii) assess funding sources and current limitations or outstanding funding needs related to offering micro-transit services in regions across the Commonwealth; and (iii) define micro-transit services for the purposes of determining eligibility for state funding; (iv) estimate annual state funding needed to support existing and emerging micro-transit services across the Commonwealth and propose a mechanism and frequency for reassessing such state funding estimate to account for changes in micro-transit needs and opportunities in the future; and (v) to explore micro-transit as a way to close mobility gaps, enhance connectivity across existing transit services, and address inequities in transportation access for certain geographies and populations.

(b) The commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation, or their designees who shall serve as co-chairs; 2 persons to be appointed by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Transit Authorities, both of whom shall be former or current administrators of a regional transit authority and 1 of whom represents a regional transit authority that serves rural communities and 1 of whom represents a regional transit authority that has offered micro-transit services; the administrator of the rail and transit division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, or designee; 2 persons representing existing or emerging micro-transit service operated by an entity that is not a regional transit authority; 1 person representing Transportation for Massachusetts; 1 person representing the Massachusetts Councils on Aging;1 person appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association who represents a municipality sponsoring or operating a micro-transit service; 1 person appointed by MassHire Department of Career Services who shall represent an office of MassHire Department of Career Services in a rural community; and 1 person appointed by Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies who shall represent a regional planning agency from a region with a majority of rural communities.

(c) The commission shall file a final report of its study and recommendations with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on transportation and the secretary of transportation not later than 3 months after this section takes effect; provided, however, that the commission may make a draft report available to the public for comment before filing its final report.