§ 5025. The Commission on Women
(a)(1) The Commission on Women is created as the successor to the Governor’s Commission on
Women established by Executive Order No. 20-86. The Commission shall be organized
and have the duties and responsibilities as provided in this section.
(2) The Commission shall be an independent agency of the government of Vermont and shall
not be subject to the control of any other department or agency.
(3) Members of the Commission shall be drawn from throughout the State and from diverse
racial, ethnic, religious, age, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic backgrounds
and shall have had experience working toward the improvement of the status of women
in society.
(b) The Commission shall consist of 16 members, appointed as follows:
(1) Eight members shall be appointed by the Governor.
(2)(A) Eight members shall be appointed by the General Assembly, four by the Senate Committee
on Committees, and four by the Speaker of the House.
(B) Each chamber may appoint not more than two legislators, and if a chamber appoints
two legislators, they shall not be from the same political party.
(c)(1) Not more than four legislators may serve on the Commission at one time.
(2) The terms of members shall be four years. Appointments of members to fill vacancies
or expired terms shall be made by the authority that made the initial appointment
to the vacated or expired term.
(d)(1) Members of the Commission shall elect biennially by majority vote the Chair of the
Commission.
(2) Members of the Commission shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation and reimbursement
of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010, which shall be paid by the Commission.
(e) A majority of the currently appointed members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum. Once a quorum has been established, the vote of a majority of the members
present at the time of the vote shall be an act of the Commission.
(f) The Commission may appoint members to an advisory council to provide information on
the concerns of Vermont women and assist the Commission in the fulfillment of its
responsibilities. The Commission may establish ad hoc committees or task forces to
study and make recommendations to the Commission. The chair of such committees or
task forces shall be appointed by the Chair of the Commission. The tenure of such
committees or task forces shall be determined by the nature of the study and the project
undertaken.
(g) The Commission shall conduct studies of matters concerning women, and in furtherance
of that responsibility may:
(1) review Vermont statutes with regard to sex discrimination and other matters affecting
the status of women;
(2) educate and inform business, education, State and local governments, and the general
public about the nature and scope of sex discrimination and other matters affecting
the status of women in Vermont;
(3) serve as a liaison and clearinghouse between government, private interest groups,
and the general public concerned with services for women, and, in this regard, may
publish a periodic newsletter to provide information to these constituencies; and
(4) promote consideration of qualified women for all levels of government positions.
(h) The powers of the Commission shall include the following:
(1) to conduct research and study of issues affecting the status of women in Vermont;
(2) to advise and consult with the Executive and Legislative branches of State government
on policies affecting the status of women in Vermont;
(3) to maintain an office and hire employees as necessary to carry out its duties;
(4) to acquire on a contractual or other basis such necessary legal, technical, or research
expertise and support services as it may require for the discharge of its duties;
(5) to publish periodic reports documenting the legal, economic, social, and political
status, and other concerns of women in Vermont;
(6) to utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies,
and organizations as may, from time to time, be offered and needed; and
(7) to accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants, or bequests or
any federal funds, for any Commission-related purposes.
(i) [Repealed.] (Added 2001, No. 142 (Adj. Sess.), § 175b; amended 2009, No. 33, § 3; 2018, No. 2 (Sp. Sess.), § 6; 2021, No. 52, § 5, eff. June 3, 2021 (redesignated from 3 V.S.A. § 22); 2023, No. 53, § 4a, eff. June 8, 2023.)