(a)  There shall be an Eastern Regional commission on the status of women which shall consist of 9 persons to be appointed by the commission on the status of women established in section 66 of chapter 3 of the General Laws. The Eastern Regional commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women in Eastern Regional communities. The Eastern Regional commission shall report its findings to the commission on the status of women annually, not later than June 2, and shall recommend solutions to the problems facing women in Eastern Regional communities. The commission on the status of women shall make appointments to the Eastern Regional commission from a pool of applicants who reside in Eastern Regional communities. For the purpose of this act, “Eastern Regional communities” shall mean municipalities located within Norfolk and Suffolk county.

(b)  Members shall serve for 3-year terms and shall continue in office until their successors are appointed. Members shall not be reappointed for more than 2 consecutive terms; provided, however, that former members may reapply to serve on the commission after 1 year has passed since their last term. Of the initial members appointed to the Eastern Regional commission on the status of women, 3 members shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 3 members shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and 3 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.

(c)  Vacancies in the membership of the Eastern Regional commission on the status of women shall be filled by the commission on the status of women for the balance of the unexpired term.

(d)  In making appointments to the Eastern Regional commission on the status of women, the commission on the status of women shall consult with women's organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 annually through an open application that is widely distributed throughout the Eastern Regional communities. Members of the commission shall be diverse and represent different Eastern Regional communities.

(e)  Members shall serve on the Eastern Regional commission on the status of women as volunteers and shall not be compensated.

(f)  The Eastern Regional commission on the status of women shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers as it deems necessary. 

(g)  The Eastern Regional commission on the status of women shall meet at least 4 times a year, at the members' discretion. Members of the commission on the status of women may attend the meetings of the Eastern Regional commission on the status of women.     

(h)  The Eastern Regional commission on the status of women may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or bequests and federal funds for any of the purposes of this act. The funds shall be deposited in a separate account to be expended at the discretion of the commission.

(i)  The Eastern Regional commission on the status of women may: (i) use voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may, from time to time, be offered or required; (ii) recommend policies and make recommendations to state and local agencies and officers to effectuate the purposes of the commission; (iii) enact by-laws for its own governance; (iv) hold regular public meetings, conduct fact-finding hearings and hold other public forums as it deems necessary; and (v) take other actions as it deems necessary to effectuate its purposes.