§ 451. Creation of Board
(a)(1) A Parole Board of seven members is created. The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint members for terms of three years in such a manner that not more than three terms shall expire annually. Initial terms may be less than three years. Each member shall hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified. The Governor shall designate the Board’s chair.
(2) Upon notification of a vacancy, the Governor shall consult with the Parole Board Director and the Chair of the Parole Board. As far as practicable, the Governor shall appoint as members persons who have knowledge of and experience in criminogenic behavior, mental health treatment, substance use disorder, or serious crime rehabilitation, and shall give consideration, as far as practicable, to geographic representation of the State and a balance of different knowledge and experience.
(3) The Board shall select one of its members to serve as Vice Chair of the Board. If the Chair resigns or is otherwise permanently unable to serve on the Board, the Vice Chair shall serve as interim chair until the Governor designates a new chair pursuant to this section.
(b) Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of a meeting. Notwithstanding 1 V.S.A. § 172, the concurrence of a majority of members present at a Parole Board meeting shall be necessary and sufficient for Board action.
(c) The Chair of the Parole Board shall be entitled to compensation in the amount of $20,500.00 annually, effective on the first pay period in fiscal year 2006, which shall be in lieu of any per diem otherwise authorized by law. If the Vice Chair assumes the duties of the Chair for a period in excess of 30 consecutive days, the compensation otherwise payable to the Chair during the Chair’s absence shall be paid to the Vice Chair.
(d) At least annually, each member of the Parole Board shall attend trainings designated by the Parole Board Director in collaboration with the Chair of the Parole Board. (Added 1971, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 20; amended 1973, No. 43, eff. April 6, 1973; 1983, No. 89, § 1; 1997, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 57, eff. April 29, 1998; 2005, No. 63, § 11; 2025, No. 111 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2026.)