(a) There is established the Task Force to Diversity the Educator Workforce to study and develop strategies to increase and improve the recruitment, preparation and retention of minority teachers, as defined in § 10-155l, in public schools in the state. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) an analysis of the causes of minority teacher shortages in the state, (2) an examination of current state-wide and school district demographics, and (3) a review of best practices.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;

(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;

(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who is a member of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly;

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate;

(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate;

(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner’s designee;

(8) The president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, or the president’s designee;

(9) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, or the executive director’s designee;

(10) Three appointed by the executive director of the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, one of whom has expertise in African American affairs, one of whom has expertise in Latino and Puerto Rican affairs, and one of whom has expertise in Asian Pacific American affairs; and

(11) On and after July 1, 2018, one appointed by the chairpersons of the task force.

(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.

(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after June 22, 2015, except the member appointed pursuant to subdivision (11) of subsection (b) of this section shall be appointed not later than thirty days after July 1, 2018. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(e) (1) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after June 22, 2015.

(2) On and after the appointment of the member described in subdivision (11) of subsection (b) of this section, such member shall serve as an additional chairperson of the task force with the same authority and responsibilities as the chairpersons selected pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.

(g) Not later than June 30, 2017, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a.

(h) The task force shall terminate on January 1, 2026.