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S.78 1
Introduced by Senators Baruth, Beck, Bongartz, Brock, Chittenden, Clarkson, 2
Collamore, Cummings, Harrison, Hashim, Ingalls, Mattos, 3
Norris, Perchlik, Plunkett, Watson, Weeks, White and Williams 4
Referred to Committee on 5
Date: 6
Subject: Commerce and trade; international trade; trade commissions 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the 8
Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission to advance bilateral trade, investment, and 9
cultural exchange between Vermont and Ireland. 10
An act relating to the creation of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 9 V.S.A. chapter 111B is added to read: 13
CHAPTER 111B. TRADE COMMISSIONS 14
§ 4129. VERMONT-IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION 15
(a) The Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission is established within the State 16
Treasurer’s office to advance bilateral trade and investment between Vermont 17
and Ireland. The Commission shall consist of 10 members as follows: 18
(1) three members, appointed by the Governor; 19
(2) three members, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.78
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(3) three members, appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees; 1
and 2
(4) the State Treasurer or designee. 3
(b) The purposes of the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission are to: 4
(1) advance bilateral trade and investment between Vermont and 5
Ireland; 6
(2) initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to Vermont 7
and Ireland; 8
(3) promote business and academic exchanges between Vermont and 9
Ireland; 10
(4) encourage mutual economic support between Vermont and Ireland; 11
(5) encourage mutual investment in the infrastructure of Vermont and 12
Ireland; and 13
(6) address other issues as determined by the Commission. 14
(c) The members of the Commission, except for the State Treasurer or 15
designee, shall be appointed for terms of four years each and shall continue to 16
serve until their successors are appointed, except that in order to achieve 17
staggered terms, the three members appointed by the Governor shall serve 18
initial terms of two years each and the three members appointed by the Speaker 19
of the House shall serve initial terms of three years each. Members may be 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.78
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reappointed. A member serves at the pleasure of the member’s appointing 1
authority. 2
(d) A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled by the 3
relevant appointing authority within 90 days after the vacancy. 4
(e) The Commission shall select a chair from among its members at the 5
first meeting. The Chair, as appropriate, may appoint from among the 6
Commission members subcommittees or a subcommittee at the Chair’s 7
discretion. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a 8
quorum for purposes of transacting the business of the Commission. 9
(f) The Commission shall submit a written report with its findings, results, 10
and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly within one 11
year of its initial organizational meeting and on or before December 1 of each 12
succeeding year for the activities of the current calendar year. 13
(g) The Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission is authorized to raise funds, 14
through direct solicitation or other fundraising events, alone or with other 15
groups, and accept donations, grants, and bequests from individuals, 16
corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, and public and private 17
organizations and institutions, to defray the Commission’s administrative 18
expenses and to carry out its purposes as set forth in this chapter. The funds, 19
donations, grants, or bequests received pursuant to this chapter shall be 20
deposited in a bank account and allocated annually by the State Treasurer’s 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.78
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office to defray the Commission’s administrative expenses and carry out its 1
purposes. Any monies so withdrawn shall not be used for any purpose other 2
than the payment of expenses under this chapter. Interest earned shall remain 3
in the bank account. 4
(h) Members of the Commission shall not receive compensation or be 5
entitled to reimbursement of expenses by the State of Vermont for their service 6
on the Commission. 7
Sec. 2. INITIAL APPOINTMENT DEADLINE FOR VERMONT -IRELAND 8
TRADE COMMISSION 9
Initial appointments to the Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission shall be 10
made not later than October 1, 2025. 11
Sec. 3. REPEAL; VERMONT-IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION 12
9 V.S.A. § 4129 (Vermont-Ireland Trade Commission) as added by this act 13
is repealed on June 30, 2030. 14
Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 15
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 16