Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H419 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 936 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 419
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Edward R. Philips
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and
13	13	mathematics.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk1/11/2023 1 of 4
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 936 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 419
19	19	By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 419) of
20	20	Edward R. Philips for legislation to establish an advisory commission (including members of the
21	21	General Court) on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Economic Development
22	22	and Emerging Technologies.
23	23	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
24	24	SEE HOUSE, NO. 4226 OF 2021-2022.]
25	25	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26	26	_______________
27	27	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
28	28	(2023-2024)
29	29	_______________
30	30	An Act establishing an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and
31	31	mathematics.
32	32	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
33	33	of the same, as follows:
34	34	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as so appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,
35	35	2is hereby amended by adding after Section 71 the following section:
36	36	3 Section 72. Advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
37	37	4 a) There shall be an advisory commission on science, technology, engineering, and
38	38	5mathematics, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The commission shall consist of thirteen
39	39	6members, two of whom shall be the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on
40	40	7Economic Development and Emerging Technologies or their designee, two of whom shall be the
41	41	8House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health or their designee, one of whom 2 of 4
42	42	9shall be the House minority leader or their designee, one of whom shall be the Senate minority
43	43	10leader or their designee, and seven of whom shall be appointed by the governor. Of the seven
44	44	11members appointed by the governor, one shall be the President of the National Society of Black
45	45	12Engineers- Boston Professionals or their designee, one shall be the President of the
46	46	13Environmental League of Massachusetts or their designee, one shall be the President of Women
47	47	14in the Enterprise of Science & Technology (WEST) or their designee, one shall be the President
48	48	15of the Broad Institute or their designee, one shall be a public health specialist employed by a
49	49	16hospital or the commonwealth from a list of not less than three nominees provided by the
50	50	17Massachusetts Hospital Association, one shall be the President of MassBio or their designee, one
51	51	18shall be the President of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers- Boston Professionals or
52	52	19their designee.
53	53	20 (b) All such appointments shall be for terms of three years from the date of appointment,
54	54	21with successors appointed in a like manner. The governor may remove an appointed member of
55	55	22the commission prior to the conclusion of their term if said member (i) is guilty of malfeasance
56	56	23in office; (ii) substantially neglects the duties of a member of the commission; (iii) is unable to
57	57	24discharge the powers and duties of their office; (iv) commits gross misconduct; or (v) is
58	58	25convicted of a felony. When a vacancy occurs on the commission, a new member fulfilling the
59	59	26requirements established in subsection (a) shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the
60	60	27unexpired term.
61	61	28 (c) The commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair and any other
62	62	29officers it may deem necessary. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. 3 of 4
63	63	30 (d) The commission shall include persons of color and women, at least in such proportion
64	64	31as these groups exist in the commonwealth’s population as periodically determined by the state
65	65	32secretary as the commonwealth’s chief census officer. The members of the commission shall
66	66	33represent a variety of subfields contained within the fields of science, technology, engineering,
67	67	34and mathematics.
68	68	35 (e) The commission shall meet monthly and at other times as it shall deem necessary or
69	69	36upon the written request of three members of the commission or the chair; provided, however,
70	70	37that notice of all meetings shall be given to each commissioner and to other persons who request
71	71	38such notice. The commission shall adopt regulations establishing procedures, which may include
72	72	39electronic communications, by which a request to receive notice shall be made and the method
73	73	40by which timely notice may be given.
74	74	41 (f) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues related to science,
75	75	42technology, engineering, and mathematics. The commission shall consider any matter germane
76	76	43to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and shall file its recommendations, if any,
77	77	44from time to time, with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives together with
78	78	45proposals for legislation, if any, necessary to carry its recommendations into effect.
79	79	46 (g) The commission shall have the following responsibilities:
80	80	47 (i) to review and analyze proposed legislation and regulatory changes and to report to the
81	81	48governor, his executive secretaries, and to the general court on the commission’s evaluation of
82	82	49the scientific integrity – defined herein as insulation from bias, political interference, and
83	83	50inadequate procedural security, and the adherence to objective, clear, and reproducible practices 4 of 4
84	84	51when conducting, reporting, and applying the results of scientific activities – of said legislation
85	85	52and regulations;
86	86	53 (ii) to offer feedback, modifications, and suggestions to the general court on proposed
87	87	54legislation in order to enhance the efficacy of the bills brought the floor of the legislature;
88	88	55 (iii) to act as an independent advocate for the interests of the commonwealth’s scientists,
89	89	56technology specialists, engineers, and mathematicians in their relations with state and federal
90	90	57governments;
91	91	58 (iv) to meet with the governor at such other times as the governor deems necessary;
92	92	59 (v) to meet with legislative leadership at such times as legislative leadership deems
93	93	60necessary;
94	94	61 (vi) to promulgate rules and regulations governing its procedures; and
95	95	62 (vii) to perform such other like services as the commission shall decide upon.
96	96	63 (h) The commission may request information and assistance from state agencies as the
97	97	64commission requires.