SECTION 1. Section 66 of Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "necessary", in line 61, the following words:- (g) to appoint members to regional chapters of the commission.

SECTION 2. There is established a permanent commission on the status of women in Essex county consisting of 9 persons who are to be appointed by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. The commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women in Essex county. The commission shall report their findings to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women annually, on or before June 2, and recommend solutions to the problems facing the women of Essex county. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women shall make such appointments to the Essex commission from a pool of applicants who reside in Essex county. (1) Members shall serve a term of 3 years and until their successors are appointed. Commissioners may be reappointed for 2 consecutive terms. After the completion of 2 consecutive terms, former commissioners may reapply to serve on the commission after a year has passed since their last term. The initial members of the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women shall be appointed for the following terms: 3 members for a term of one year, 3 members for a term of two years, and 3 members for a term of 3 years. (2) 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. (3) Appointments by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to the Essex 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 Essex county. Members of the commission should be diverse and represent different towns and municipalities in Essex county. (4) Members shall serve on the commission as volunteers and will not be compensated. (5) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers it deems necessary.