Resolved,
That a special commission, to consist of 2 members of the senate, 4 members of
the house of representatives, the commissioner of the department of public
health or his designee, the commissioner of education or designee, the
chancellor of the university of Massachusetts medical school or his designee,
the director of the state laboratory institute or designee, the state
epidemiologist or designee, and 3 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of
whom shall be a representative of the cape and islands Lyme disease task force,
1 whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts chapter of the international Lyme
and associated diseases society, and 1 whom shall be a member of the Lyme
disease association is hereby established for the purpose of making an
investigation and study of Lyme disease including, but not limited to, a review
of the costs and benefits associated with (1) establishing a Massachusetts
center for Lyme disease; (2) conducting a Lyme disease public health clinical
screening study in high risk regions; and (3) developing education materials
and training resources for clinical providers and school health personnel for
detecting signs and symptoms of tick borne illnesses in school aged populations.
Said commission shall report its findings together with legislation, if any, to
clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on
public health and the house and senate committees on ways and means committees
no later than February 1, 2009.