§ 905. Selection of commissioners [Repealed effective May 1, 2027]
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided pursuant to subdivision (c)(1) of this section, the Selection
Panel shall, on or before December 31, 2022, select three individuals to serve as
the commissioners of the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
(2) In carrying out its duty to select the commissioners, the Panel shall:
(A) Establish a public, transparent, and simple process for candidates to apply to serve
as a commissioner.
(B) Publicize the application process, deadlines, and requirements to serve as a commissioner
through media outlets, civil society organizations, and any other forms of public
outreach that the Panel determines to be appropriate.
(C) Solicit nominations for individuals to serve as commissioners from civil society organizations
in Vermont whose work relates to the mission of the Commission.
(D) Invite Vermont residents to submit applications to serve as commissioners.
(E) Hold one or more public hearings to provide an opportunity for members of the public
to meet and ask questions of the finalists to serve as a commissioner.
(F) Hold private interviews with each individual selected by the Panel as a finalist for
selection as a commissioner.
(G) Conduct criminal history record checks for finalists, provided that the Panel shall
only consider felony convictions or convictions for crimes involving untruthfulness
or falsification. A finalist who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving
untruthfulness or falsification shall be afforded an opportunity to explain the information
and the circumstances regarding the conviction, including postconviction rehabilitation.
(H) Take any other actions that the Panel deems appropriate or necessary to carry out
its duties in relation to the selection of commissioners.
(3) The three commissioners selected by the Panel shall:
(A) be residents of Vermont;
(B) not be members of the Selection Panel;
(C) have knowledge of the problems and challenges facing the populations and communities
identified pursuant to subdivisions 902(b)(1)(A)–(D) of this chapter; and
(D) satisfy any additional criteria established by the Panel.
(b) Not later than five days after selecting the commissioners pursuant to subsection
(a) of this section, the Panel shall submit a brief report to the Governor and the
General Assembly identifying the commissioners. The names of the commissioners shall
be made available to the public on the same day that the report is submitted.
(c)(1) If the Panel is unable to identify three suitable applicants on or before December
31, 2022, the Panel may by a majority vote extend the time to select commissioners
to March 31, 2023.
(2) If the Panel extends the time to select commissioners pursuant to this subsection,
the Panel shall, on or before January 5, 2023, submit a brief written report to the
House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee
on Government Operations providing notice of its decision to extend the time to select
commissioners and its reasons for doing so and identifying any changes to the provisions
of this chapter that may be necessary to enable the Panel to successfully identify
and select commissioners.
(d) The Panel shall fill any vacancy occurring among the commissioners within 60 days
after the vacancy occurs in the manner set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this
section. A commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy pursuant to this subsection shall
be appointed to serve for the balance of the unexpired term. (Added 2021, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 24, 2022; amended 2023, No. 107 (Adj. Sess.), § 4, eff. May 13, 2024; repealed on May 1, 2027 by 2021, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)