2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 1 - General Provisions › Chapter 25 - Truth and Reconciliation Commission [Repealed Effective July 1, 2026] › § 904. Selection panel; membership; duties

§ 904. Selection panel; membership; duties
(a)(1) The Selection Panel shall be composed of seven members selected on or before September 1, 2022 by a majority vote of the following:
(A) the Executive Director of Racial Equity or designee;
(B) the Executive Director of the Vermont Center for Independent Living or designee;
(C) an individual, who shall not be a current member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(D) an individual, who shall not be a current member of the General Assembly, appointed by the Committee on Committees; and
(E) an individual appointed by the Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
(2) The individuals identified in subdivision (1) of this subsection:
(A) shall hold their first meeting on or before August 1, 2022 at the call of the individual appointed by the Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court; and
(B) are encouraged to appoint individuals to the Selection Panel who include members of the populations and communities identified pursuant to subdivisions 902(b)(1)(A)–(D) of this chapter and who are diverse with respect to socioeconomic status, work, education, geographic location, gender, and sexual identity.
(3) Individuals selected pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection who are not employees of the State of Vermont and who are not otherwise compensated or reimbursed for their attendance shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than two meetings. These payments shall be made from amounts appropriated to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
(b)(1) The Selection Panel shall select and appoint the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as provided pursuant to section 905 of this chapter.
(2) To enable it to carry out its duty to select and appoint the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as provided pursuant to section 905 of this chapter, the Panel may:
(A) adopt procedures as necessary to carry out the duties set forth in section 905 of this chapter;
(B) establish and maintain a principal office;
(C) meet and hold hearings at any place in this State; and
(D) hire temporary staff to provide administrative assistance during the period from September 1, 2022 through January 15, 2023, provided that if the Panel extends the time to select commissioners pursuant to subdivision 905(c)(1) of this chapter, it may retain staff to provide administrative assistance through March 31, 2023.
(c) The term of each member of the Panel shall begin on the date of appointment and end on January 15, 2023, except if the Panel extends the time to select commissioners pursuant to subdivision 905(c)(1) of this chapter, the term of the Panel members shall end on March 31, 2023.
(d) The Panel shall select a chair and a vice chair from among its members.
(e)(1) Meetings shall be held at the call of the Chair or at the request of four or more members of the Panel.
(2) A majority of the current membership of the Panel shall constitute a quorum, and actions of the Panel may be authorized by a majority of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Panel.
(f) Members of the Panel shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than 20 meetings during fiscal year 2023. These payments shall be made from amounts appropriated to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (Added 2021, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 24, 2022; repealed on July 1, 2026 by 2021, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)