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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk1/11/2023 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 936 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 419
By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 419) of
Edward R. Philips for legislation to establish an advisory commission (including members of the
General Court) on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Economic Development
and Emerging Technologies.
[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:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by adding after Section 71 the following section:
3 Section 72. Advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
4 a) There shall be an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and
5mathematics, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The commission shall consist of thirteen
6members, two of whom shall be the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on
7Economic Development and Emerging Technologies or their designee, two of whom shall be the
8House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health or their designee, one of whom 2 of 4
9shall be the House minority leader or their designee, one of whom shall be the Senate minority
10leader or their designee, and seven of whom shall be appointed by the governor. Of the seven
11members appointed by the governor, one shall be the President of the National Society of Black
12Engineers- Boston Professionals or their designee, one shall be the President of the
13Environmental League of Massachusetts or their designee, one shall be the President of Women
14in the Enterprise of Science & Technology (WEST) or their designee, one shall be the President
15of the Broad Institute or their designee, one shall be a public health specialist employed by a
16hospital or the commonwealth from a list of not less than three nominees provided by the
17Massachusetts Hospital Association, one shall be the President of MassBio or their designee, one
18shall be the President of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers- Boston Professionals or
19their designee.
20 (b) All such appointments shall be for terms of three years from the date of appointment,
21with successors appointed in a like manner. The governor may remove an appointed member of
22the commission prior to the conclusion of their term if said member (i) is guilty of malfeasance
23in office; (ii) substantially neglects the duties of a member of the commission; (iii) is unable to
24discharge the powers and duties of their office; (iv) commits gross misconduct; or (v) is
25convicted of a felony. When a vacancy occurs on the commission, a new member fulfilling the
26requirements established in subsection (a) shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the
27unexpired term.
28 (c) The commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair and any other
29officers it may deem necessary. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. 3 of 4
30 (d) The commission shall include persons of color and women, at least in such proportion
31as these groups exist in the commonwealth’s population as periodically determined by the state
32secretary as the commonwealth’s chief census officer. The members of the commission shall
33represent a variety of subfields contained within the fields of science, technology, engineering,
34and mathematics.
35 (e) The commission shall meet monthly and at other times as it shall deem necessary or
36upon the written request of three members of the commission or the chair; provided, however,
37that notice of all meetings shall be given to each commissioner and to other persons who request
38such notice. The commission shall adopt regulations establishing procedures, which may include
39electronic communications, by which a request to receive notice shall be made and the method
40by which timely notice may be given.
41 (f) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues related to science,
42technology, engineering, and mathematics. The commission shall consider any matter germane
43to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and shall file its recommendations, if any,
44from time to time, with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives together with
45proposals for legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.
46 (g) The commission shall have the following responsibilities:
47 (i) to review and analyze proposed legislation and regulatory changes and to report to the
48governor, his executive secretaries, and to the general court on the commission’s evaluation of
49the scientific integrity – defined herein as insulation from bias, political interference, and
50inadequate procedural security, and the adherence to objective, clear, and reproducible practices 4 of 4
51when conducting, reporting, and applying the results of scientific activities – of said legislation
52and regulations;
53 (ii) to offer feedback, modifications, and suggestions to the general court on proposed
54legislation in order to enhance the efficacy of the bills brought the floor of the legislature;
55 (iii) to act as an independent advocate for the interests of the commonwealth’s scientists,
56technology specialists, engineers, and mathematicians in their relations with state and federal
57governments;
58 (iv) to meet with the governor at such other times as the governor deems necessary;
59 (v) to meet with legislative leadership at such times as legislative leadership deems
60necessary;
61 (vi) to promulgate rules and regulations governing its procedures; and
62 (vii) to perform such other like services as the commission shall decide upon.
63 (h) The commission may request information and assistance from state agencies as the
64commission requires.