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2013 SESSION

12103539D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1172
Offered January 17, 2012
A BILL to amend and reenact § 2.2-2632 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Human Rights Council; authority to act.
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Patron-- Watts
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Referred to Committee on General Laws
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 2.2-2632 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2.2-2632. Human Rights Council; membership; terms; quorum; compensation.

A. The Human Rights Council (the "Council") is established as a policy council, within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The Council shall consist of nine members, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The members appointed by the Governor shall, insofar as possible, be diverse with respect to economic status, race, sex, color, ethnicity, age, disabilities, political affiliation, and marital status.

B. Of the members first appointed, four shall be appointed to two-year terms, and five shall be appointed to four-year terms. Thereafter members shall be appointed to four-year terms, except members appointed to fill vacancies shall be appointed for the remainder of the unexpired term.

In the case of vacancies on the Council during a recess of the General Assembly, the Governor shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy, and the appointee shall hold office until thirty 30 days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly and, if confirmed by the General Assembly, for the remainder of the unexpired term.

C. The Governor shall designate one of the members of the Council to be chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all the meetings of the Council. The Council by majority vote shall elect one of its members as vice-chairperson who, in the absence of the chairperson, shall perform all the duties and functions of the chairperson.

D. A simple majority of the members serving on the Council shall constitute a quorum. No power pursuant to § 2.2-2634 may be exercised by the Council unless agreed to by a majority of the nine a quorum of the members of the Council appointed. Vacancies in the Council shall not impair the authority of remaining members to exercise all the powers of the Council.

E. Members of the Council shall receive compensation for the discharge of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813.