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1 H.667
2 An act relating to the creation of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission
3 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
4 Sec. 1. 9 V.S.A. chapter 111B is added to read:
5 CHAPTER 111B. TRADE COMMISSIONS
6 § 4129. VERMONT-IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION
7 (a) The Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission is established within the State
8 Treasurer’s office to advance bilateral trade and investment between Vermont
9 and Ireland. The Commission shall consist of 10 members as follows:
10 (1) three members, appointed by the Governor;
11 (2) three members, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
12 (3) three members, appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees;
13 and
14 (4) the State Treasurer or designee.
15 (b) The purposes of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission are to:
16 (1) advance bilateral trade and investment between Vermont and
17 Ireland;
18 (2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to Vermont
19 and Ireland;
20 (3) promote business and academic exchanges between Vermont and
21 Ireland;
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1 (4) encourage mutual economic support between Vermont and Ireland;
2 (5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of Vermont and
3 Ireland; and
4 (6) address other issues as determined by the Commission.
5 (c) The members of the Commission, except for the State Treasurer or
6 designee, shall be appointed for terms of four years each and shall continue to
7 serve until their successors are appointed, except that in order to achieve
8 staggered terms, the three members appointed by the Governor shall serve
9 initial terms of two years each and the three members appointed by the Speaker
10 of the House shall serve initial terms of three years each. Members may be
11 reappointed. A member serves at the pleasure of the member’s appointing
12 authority.
13 (d) A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled by the
14 relevant appointing authority within 90 days after the vacancy.
15 (e) The Commission shall select a chair from among its members at the
16 first meeting. The Chair, as appropriate, may appoint from among the
17 Commission members subcommittees or a subcommittee at the Chair’s
18 discretion. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a
19 quorum for purposes of transacting the business of the Commission.
20 (f) The Commission shall submit a written report with its findings, results,
21 and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly within one VT LEG #375623 v.1
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1 year of its initial organizational meeting and on or before November 1 of each
2 succeeding year for the activities of the current calendar year.
3 (g) The Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission is authorized to raise funds,
4 through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone or with other
5 groups, and accept donations, grants, and bequests from individuals,
6 corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private
7 organizations and institutions, to defray the Commission’s administrative
8 expenses and to carry out its purposes as set forth in this chapter. The funds,
9 donations, grants, or bequests received pursuant to this chapter shall be
10 deposited in a bank account and allocated annually by the State Treasurer’s
11 office to defray the Commission’s administrative expenses and carry out its
12 purposes. Any monies so withdrawn shall not be used for any purpose other
13 than the payment of expenses under this chapter. Interest earned shall remain
14 in the bank account.
15 (h) Members of the Commission shall not receive compensation or be
16 entitled to reimbursement of expenses by the State of Vermont for their service
17 on the Commission.
18 Sec. 2. INITIAL APPOINTMENT DEADLINE FOR VERMONT-IRELAND
19 TRADE COMMISSION
20 Initial appointments to the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission shall be
21 made not later than October 1, 2024.
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1 Sec. 3. REPEAL; VERMONT-IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION
2 9 V.S.A. § 4129 (Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission) as added by this act
3 is repealed on June 30, 2029.
4 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
5 This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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