§1962b–2 Organization of Commissions

Summary

Each river basin commission must organize itself within ninety days after the President declares it created, as long as money is available. A commission can be ended by the Council or by agreement of a majority of the States that are members. When a commission ends, its property, assets, and records go to the appropriate U.S. and State agencies, but studies, data, and other planning materials useful to any participant must remain available to all participants. State members must pick a vice chairman who also leads the State members and speaks for the States in Federal‑State matters. Vacancies do not stop the commission from working and must be filled the same way as the original appointments. The chairman and vice chairman can name temporary alternates. The commission should try to reach agreement on issues, but if it cannot, every member may give their views. If no consensus is possible, the chairman’s position for Federal members and the vice chairman’s position for State members must be recorded. The chairman, after consulting the vice chairman and unless the commission has a bylaw or consensus to the contrary, has final say over meeting schedules, report deadlines, subcommittees, and other procedural matters needed for the commission to do its work.