Section 218. (a) There shall be a science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, advisory council. The council shall advise the governor and assist in informing the work of the secretary of education, the secretary of labor and workforce development and the secretary of housing and economic development on issues relating to STEM education and STEM careers.

(b) The council shall: (i) confer with participants and parties from the public and private sectors involved with STEM planning and programming; (ii) assess how to increase student interest in, and preparation for, careers in STEM; and (iii) advise on the creation, implementation of and updates to a statewide STEM plan that contains clear goals and objectives to guide future STEM efforts, including the creation of benchmarks for improvements.

(c) The council shall consist of at least 20 but not more than 30 members, not including members serving ex officio. The members of the council shall be appointed by the governor for a term of 2 years and shall serve without compensation. Council members shall be persons with demonstrated interest, experience and expertise in STEM education and shall include: a senator in congress from the commonwealth; a representative in congress from the commonwealth; a member of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative; a member of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; a member of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; the president of the University of Massachusetts or a designee; a president of a state university or a designee; a president of a private university or a designee; a president of a public community college or a designee; a superintendent of a public school district or a designee; a superintendent of a vocational technical school or a designee; a chamber of commerce executive or a designee; a representative of a regional STEM network; an early education provider; a science or mathematics department chair from a public school district; an out-of-school time or informal educator with expertise in the STEM fields; a parent representative; a member of organized labor; a member of the Massachusetts cultural council; a member from the Massachusetts Business Roundtable; and a member from a not-for-profit organization. The governor shall designate 2 members of the council to serve as co-chairs, 1 of whom shall be a member from the public sector and 1 of whom shall be a member from the private sector.

The following members or their designees shall serve as members of the council, ex officio: the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on education; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development; the secretary of education; the secretary of labor and workforce development; the secretary of housing and economic development; the commissioner of higher education; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; and the commissioner of early education and care.

(d) The council shall establish an executive committee which shall consist of 7 members who shall provide guidance on the recommendations of the council and plan future meetings and initiatives. The co-chairs shall determine the membership of the executive committee and shall designate subcommittees to focus on particular challenges facing STEM education and the STEM fields. The council and the executive committee shall meet at such times and places as determined by the co-chairs. The council shall submit its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation or regulations necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the governor and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives at such periods as determined by the co-chairs.