AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE WORCESTER 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 Worcester county consisting of 9 members to be appointed by the Massachusetts commission on the status of women. The Worcester commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning women in Worcester county. The Worcester commission shall report its findings to the Massachusetts commission on the status of women annually, not later than June 2, and recommend solutions to the problems facing the women of Worcester county. The Massachusetts commission on the status of women shall make appointments to the Worcester commission from a pool of applicants who reside in Worcester county.
(b) Members shall serve for 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, former members may reapply to serve on the commission after a year has passed since their last term. The initial members of the Worcester commission 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 Worcester 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 Worcester commission shall be made in consultation with women's organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 annually through an open application that is widely distributed throughout Worcester county. Members of the Worcester commission shall be diverse and represent different towns and municipalities in Worcester county.
(e) Members shall serve on the Worcester commission as volunteers and shall not be compensated.
(f) The Worcester commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers it deems necessary.
Approved, October 8, 2013.