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December 21, 2024 Clouds | 27°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 9: Powers and duties of the interstate commission

Section 9. The interstate commission may:

(a) provide for dispute resolution among member states;

(b) issue, upon request of a member state, advisory opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of the interstate compact, its by-laws, rules and actions;

(c) enforce compliance with the compact provisions and the rules promulgated by the interstate commission and in the by-laws through the use of all necessary and proper means, including, but not limited to, the use of the judicial process;

(d) establish and maintain offices, which shall be located within 1 or more of the member states;

(e) purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;

(f) borrow, accept, hire or contract for services or personnel;

(g) establish and appoint committees including, but not limited to, an executive committee as required by paragraph 9 of subsection (a) of section 8;

(h) elect or appoint officers, attorneys, employees, agents or consultants and fix the compensation, define the duties and determine the qualifications for those positions;

(i) establish the interstate commission's personnel, policies and programs relating to conflicts of interest, rates of compensation and qualifications of personnel;

(j) accept any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services and to receive, utilize and dispose of it;

(k) lease, purchase, own, hold, improve, use or accept contributions of or donations of any property, real, personal or mixed;

(l) sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed;

(m) establish a budget and make expenditures;

(n) adopt a seal and by-laws governing the management and operation of the interstate commission;

(o) report annually to the legislatures, governors, judiciary and state councils of the member states concerning the activities of the interstate commission during the preceding year and the reports shall include recommendations that may have been adopted by the interstate commission;

(p) coordinate education, training and public awareness regarding this compact and its implementation and operation for officials and parents or guardians impacted by this compact;

(q) establish uniform standards for the reporting, collecting and exchanging of data;

(r) maintain corporate books and records in accordance with the by-laws;

(s) perform the functions necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this compact; and

(t) provide for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools and military families under this compact.