32:26-3. The commission

(a) There is hereby created an agency of the party States to be known as the "Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission" hereinafter called the commission. The commission shall be composed of one commissioner from each party State who shall be appointed, serve and be subject to removal in accordance with the laws of the State which he represents. If authorized by the laws of his party State, a commissioner may provide for the discharge of his duties and the performance of his functions on the commission, either for the duration of his membership or for any lesser period of time, by an alternate. No such alternate shall be entitled to serve unless notification of his identity and appointment shall have been given to the commission in such form as the commission may require. Each commissioner, and each alternate, when serving in the place and stead of a commissioner, shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the commission for expenses actually incurred in attending commission meetings or while engaged in the business of the commission.

(b) The commissioners shall be entitled to one vote each on the commission. No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on the commission are cast in favor thereof. Action of the commission shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the commissioners, or their alternates, are present.

(c) The commission shall have a seal.

(d) The commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a chairman, a vice-chairman and a treasurer. The commission may appoint an executive director and fix his duties and compensation. Such executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and together with the treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as the commission shall determine. The executive director also shall serve as secretary. If there be no executive director, the commission shall elect a secretary in addition to the other officers provided by this subdivision.

(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, or the commission if there be no executive director, shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the commission's functions, and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel.

(f) The commission may establish and maintain independently or in conjunction with any one or more of the party States, a suitable retirement system for its full-time employees. Employees of the commission shall be eligible for social security coverage in respect of old age and survivor's insurance provided that the commission takes such steps as may be necessary pursuant to the laws of the United States, to participate in such program of insurance as a governmental agency or unit. The commission may establish and maintain or participate in such additional programs of employee benefits as may be appropriate.

(g) The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any party State, the United States, or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or from any agency of 2 or more of the party States or their subdivisions.

(h) The commission may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this compact any and all donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials, and services, conditional or otherwise, from any State, the United States, or any other governmental agency and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same.

(i) The commission may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The commission may acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.

(j) The commission shall adopt by-laws for the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these by-laws. The commission shall publish its by-laws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party States. The by-laws shall provide for appropriate notice to the commissioners of all commission meetings and hearings and the business to be transacted at such meetings or hearings. Such notice shall also be given to such agencies or officers of each party State as the laws of such party State may provide.

(k) The commission annually shall make to the Governor and Legislature of each party State a report covering the activities of the commission for the preceding year, and embodying such recommendations as may have been issued by the commission. The commission may make such additional reports as it may deem desirable.

L.1964, c. 54, s. 1.