SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in the commonwealth. The commission shall study and make recommendations for remedying timeliness and equity issues in the processing of claims for unemployment insurance. The commission shall evaluate the structure and operations of the department of unemployment assistance, including the current number of employees and the departmental budget, and make recommendations to improve the department’s effectiveness in fulfilling its legislative mandate.

 (b) The commission shall consist of 9 members: the secretary of labor and workforce development, or a designee; the director of the department of unemployment assistance, or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development, or designees; and 5 members to be appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall have expertise in the administration of unemployment insurance or other social services and 2 of whom shall have experience in pursuing a claim for unemployment insurance in the commonwealth.

 SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2026, the commission shall file a report of its findings, including any legislative, regulatory or budgetary recommendations, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on labor and workforce development.