(a) There is established the Connecticut-Israel Exchange Commission. The commission shall be within the Department of Economic and Community Development for the purpose of promoting and expanding economic, scientific, educational, technological, commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation and exchange between the state of Connecticut and the state of Israel.

(b) The Connecticut-Israel Exchange Commission shall be comprised of: (1) The Governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the Senate, or their designees, and the cochairmen and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to economic development and education; (2) the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or his designee; (3) two public members appointed by the Governor; and (4) two members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, two members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, two members appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives and two members appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. Of the members appointed under subdivision (4) of this subsection, each appointing authority shall appoint one member from the public and one member from the General Assembly. The Governor shall appoint from among the members of the commission a chairperson who shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor.

(c) The first appointments shall be made on or before July 1, 1988. The term of each appointed member shall be coterminous with the appointing authority or until a successor is chosen, whichever is longer. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(d) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(e) The commission shall organize itself in such manner as it deems desirable and necessary. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting shall be necessary to take any action or adopt any motion or resolution.

(P.A. 88-209, S. 1, 4; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6.)

History: P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development.