AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BRISTOL COUNTY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
(a) There shall be a permanent commission on the status of women in Bristol county consisting of 9 members to be appointed by the Massachusetts commission on the status of women. The Bristol commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women in Bristol county. The Bristol commission shall report its findings to the Massachusetts commission on the status of women annually, on or before June 2, and recommend solutions to problems facing the women of Bristol county. The Massachusetts commission on the status of women shall make appointments to the Bristol commission from a pool of applicants who reside in Bristol county.
( b) Bristol commission members shall serve a term of 3 years and until their successors are appointed. Members may be reappointed for 2 consecutive terms. After the completion of 2 consecutive terms, members may reapply to serve on the commission after a year has passed since their last term. The initial members of the Bristol county commission on the status of women shall be appointed for the following terms: 3 members for a term of 1 year ; 3 members for a term of 2 years ; and 3 members for a term of 3 years.
( c) Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the Massachusetts commission on the status of women for the balance of the unexpired term.
( d) Appointments by the Massachusetts commission on the status of women to the Bristol county commission on the status of women shall be made in consultation with women's organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open application that is widely distributed throughout Bristol county. Members of the Bristol commission may be diverse and represent different towns and municipalities in Bristol county.
( e) Members shall serve on the commission as volunteers and shall not be compensated.
( f) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers it considers necessary.
Approved July 16, 2008