Sec. 5. (a) The commission shall elect annually, from its members, a chair, a vice chair, and a treasurer.

     (b) The commission shall appoint an executive director and fix the executive director’s duties and compensation. The executive director serves at the pleasure of the commission.

     (c) The executive director, the treasurer, and other personnel as the commission designates shall be bonded. The commission shall determine the amounts of the bonds.

     (d) The commission may employ staff as necessary for the purposes of the commission.

     (e) Irrespective of the civil service, personnel, or other merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director, with the approval of the commission, has the following powers over the employees of the commission as necessary for the performance of the commission’s functions:

(1) Appoint, remove, or discharge.

(2) Direct the duties and hours of operation.

(3) Fix the compensation and benefits for personnel.

     (f) The commission may establish and maintain, independently or in conjunction with a party state, a suitable retirement system for its employees. Employees of the commission are eligible for Social Security coverage in respect to old age and survivor’s insurance if the commission takes the steps necessary under the laws of the United States to participate in a program of insurance as a governmental agency or unit. The commission may establish and maintain or participate in additional programs of employee benefits as the commission considers appropriate.

     (g) The commission may borrow, accept, or contract for the services of personnel from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation.

     (h) The commission may accept donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and service from:

(1) any state;

(2) the United States or any other governmental agency; or

(3) any person, firm, association, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation;

and may receive, use, and dispose of the same.

     (i) Any donation, grant or other source of funds accepted by the commission under subsection (h), or any services borrowed under subsection (g), must be reported in the annual report of the commission. The report must include the nature, amount, disposal, and conditions of the donation, grant, or services borrowed and the identity of the donor or lender.

     (j) The commission shall adopt bylaws for its business and has the power to amend and rescind the bylaws. The commission shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy of the bylaws and a copy of any amendment to the bylaws, with the appropriate agency or officer and with the advisory body under section 2(b) of this chapter in each of the party states.

     (k) The commission shall make reports as follows:

(1) Report annually to the governor, the advisory body under section 2(b) of this chapter, and the legislature of each party state covering the activities of the commission for the preceding year and listing such recommendations as may have been made by the commission.

(2) At the request of a party state, the commission must make a report in addition to the annual report to the party state.

(3) Upon its own request, the commission may make additional reports to the party states.

As added by P.L.50-1997, SEC.1.