MA H4419

Establishes a special commission to study the sustainability of food pantries in the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), examining state support adequacy, workforce development, governance, succession planning, and capacity to meet resident needs

Commission must develop recommendations on workforce training and apprenticeships, technical assistance for organizational sustainability, assessment of emergency food demand, impacts on state funding and private fundraising, and frequency of food pantry use

Commission membership includes 15+ members: commissioners from agricultural resources and transitional assistance departments, legislative appointees, representatives from four regional food banks, four food pantry representatives (urban, suburban, rural, non-urban), and two food pantry program participants from diverse backgrounds

Commissioners must be appointed within 30 days of enactment, first meeting held within 45 days, and final report with legislative recommendations filed within 18 months to relevant House and Senate committees

Commission dissolves 30 days after report submission unless a two-thirds vote approves a specified continuance period