(d) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues affecting Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. In furtherance of that responsibility, the commission shall:

1. (1) promote research and be a clearinghouse and source of information on issues pertaining to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the commonwealth;
2. (2) inform the public and leaders of business, education, human services, health care, state and local governments and the communications media of the unique cultural, social, ethnic, economic and educational issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the commonwealth;
3. (3) foster unity among Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities and organizations in the commonwealth by promoting cooperation and sharing of information and encouraging collaboration and joint activities;
4. (4) serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups with regard to matters of unique interest and concern to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the commonwealth;
5. (5) identify opportunities to expand and improve commercial and cultural ties with Asian and Pacific Island nations;
6. (6) identify and recommend qualified Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions, as the commission considers necessary and appropriate;
7. (7) assess the effect on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of programs and practices in all state agencies, as the commission considers necessary and appropriate;
8. (8) advise executive and legislative bodies on the potential effect on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of proposed legislation, as the commission considers necessary and appropriate; and
9. (9) generally undertake activities designed to enable the commonwealth to realize the full benefit of the skills, talents and cultural heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the commonwealth.

(f) The powers of the commission shall include, but not be limited, to:

1. (1) using voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations that may from time to time be offered and needed, including provision of meeting places and refreshments;
2. (2) holding regular, public meetings and fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it considers necessary;
3. (3) directing a staff to perform its duties;
4. (4) establishing and maintaining offices that it considers necessary, subject to appropriation;
5. (5) enacting by-laws for its own governance that are not inconsistent with any general or special law; and
6. (6) making policy recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of subsection (d).