(a) There is hereby created a board of three members to be known as the Vermont Employment Security Board. The members of the Board shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The term of each member shall be six years. Biennially, in the month of February, with the advice and consent of the Senate, the Governor shall appoint a person as a member of such Board for the term of six years, whose term of office shall commence March 1 of the year in which such appointment is made. Any appointment to a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term. In case of a vacancy by resignation, the member resigning shall continue in office until his or her successor is appointed. No more than two members of the Board shall be members of the same political party. Biennially, in the month of February, the Governor shall designate a member of such board to be its chair. The Governor may at any time remove a member of such Board for gross inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office.

(b) The Board may hear and decide all matters appealed to it under this chapter. It shall determine its own methods of procedure. It may, with the approval of the Governor, adopt, amend, suspend, or rescind such rules and regulations as it considers necessary and consistent with this chapter. The rules and regulations of the Board shall have the force and effect of law after public hearing thereon of which reasonable notice has been given, and after filing with the Secretary of State, and publication in such manner as the Board shall prescribe. The Board may administer oaths, take depositions, certify to official acts, and subpoena witnesses and compel the production of books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records necessary and material in the discharge of its duties imposed by this chapter. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 22, eff. March 1, 1961; 1961, No. 210, § 1, eff. July 11, 1961.)