§ 905. Selection of commissioners

(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided pursuant to subdivision (c)(1) of this section, the Selection Panel shall, on or before December 31, 2022, select three individuals to serve as the commissioners of the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

(2) In carrying out its duty to select the commissioners, the Panel shall:

(A) Establish a public, transparent, and simple process for candidates to apply to serve as a commissioner.

(B) Publicize the application process, deadlines, and requirements to serve as a commissioner through media outlets, civil society organizations, and any other forms of public outreach that the Panel determines to be appropriate.

(C) Solicit nominations for individuals to serve as commissioners from civil society organizations in Vermont whose work relates to the mission of the Commission.

(D) Invite Vermont residents to submit applications to serve as commissioners.

(E) Hold one or more public hearings to provide an opportunity for members of the public to meet and ask questions of the finalists to serve as a commissioner.

(F) Hold private interviews with each individual selected by the Panel as a finalist for selection as a commissioner.

(G) Conduct criminal history record checks for finalists, provided that the Panel shall only consider felony convictions or convictions for crimes involving untruthfulness or falsification. A finalist who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving untruthfulness or falsification shall be afforded an opportunity to explain the information and the circumstances regarding the conviction, including postconviction rehabilitation.

(H) Take any other actions that the Panel deems appropriate or necessary to carry out its duties in relation to the selection of commissioners.

(3) The three commissioners selected by the Panel shall:

(A) be residents of Vermont;

(B) not be members of the Selection Panel;

(C) have knowledge of the problems and challenges facing the populations and communities identified pursuant to subdivisions 902(b)(1)(A)-(D) of this chapter; and

(D) satisfy any additional criteria established by the Panel.

(b) Not later than five days after selecting the commissioners pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Panel shall submit a brief report to the Governor and the General Assembly identifying the commissioners. The names of the commissioners shall be made available to the public on the same day that the report is submitted.

(c)(1) If the Panel is unable to identify three suitable applicants on or before December 31, 2022, the Panel may by a majority vote extend the time to select commissioners to March 31, 2023.

(2) If the Panel extends the time to select commissioners pursuant to this subsection, the Panel shall, on or before January 5, 2023, submit a brief written report to the House Committee on General, Housing, and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Government Operations providing notice of its decision to extend the time to select commissioners and its reasons for doing so and identifying any changes to the provisions of this chapter that may be necessary to enable the Panel to successfully identify and select commissioners. (Added 2021, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 24, 2022; repealed on July 1, 2026 by 2021, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § 4.)