(a) There is hereby created, as a permanent commission within the administration, a Virgin Islands Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission shall be composed of eleven members, who shall be appointed by the Governor from among persons with a competency in public affairs and women's activities, including persons employed by the federal or territorial governments as considered necessary to carry out the work of the Commission, and for terms of three years each after original staggered appointments of four members for one year, four members for two years, and three members for three years. At least five members shall be residents of the Island of St. Croix, at least five residents of St. Thomas, and at least one a resident of St. John.
(b) The Governor shall select, from among the members, a Chairman of the Commission, who shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Governor. The Commission shall function within the Department of Labor for all administrative purposes.
(c) The Commission on the Status of Women shall primarily be responsible for, but not limited to, fact-finding investigations and reports on the Status of Women in the Virgin Islands in the following areas: Health, Education, Housing, Civil Rights, need for protective legislation, earnings, employment, family relations, working conditions, political status, legal status.
(d) The Commission shall have the powers and authority necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon it by this section, including, but not limited to the following:
(1) to gather, correlate and interpret facts affecting the status of women in the Virgin Islands;
(2) to hold hearings;
(3) to appoint advisory committees;
(4) to inquire into and make recommendations to appropriate agencies, public or private, on any matter within its competence;
(5) to enlist the aid of public or private agencies concerned with the welfare and status of women and to report on the functions and facilities of governmental agencies and institutions charged with the welfare, care, control, protection, employment and rehabilitation of women;
(6) to submit such special reports from time to time as it may consider necessary or appropriate, or upon the request of the Governor or the Legislature, and before each annual session of the Legislature, make such recommendations for legislation as it may deem necessary or appropriate as part of an integrated, unified and consistent program to improve the status of women in the Virgin Islands;
(7) to accept and administer any federal funds granted for all or any of the purposes of this section;
(8) to employ such administrative, technical or other personnel as may be necessary for the performance of its powers and duties.
(e) Members of the Commission shall receive a stipend of ten dollars ($10.00) per day for each Commission meeting attended, and shall be reimbursed for necessary travelling expenses in accordance with the regulations applicable to employees of the United States Virgin Islands Government.