Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish forthwith a comprehensive plan for the appointment of the members of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 33 of chapter 190 of the acts of 1982 is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph, as amended by section 23 of chapter 152 of the acts of 1997, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

The authority shall consist of 13 members, who shall be appointed as provided hereunder. Nine members shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be appointed from a list of three nominees recommended by the Massachusetts Visitors Industry Council, one of whom shall be appointed from a list of three nominees recommended by the Massachusetts Lodging Association, one of whom shall be a resident of the city of Cambridge, one of whom shall be a resident of Hampden county. Two persons shall be appointed by the mayor of the city of Boston, one of whom shall be a resident of South Boston. The remaining two persons shall be the secretary of administration and finance or his designee and the collector-treasurer of the city of Boston or his designee, who both shall serve ex officio and shall have the right to exercise or vote on matters before the authority. The governor, with the advice and consent of the mayor of the city of Boston, shall designate one member of the authority as chairman during his term in office as a member of the authority. Three of the members of the authority first appointed by the governor shall continue in office for a term expiring December 31, 2000 and three members of the authority first appointed by the governor shall continue in office for a term expiring December 31, 2001 and three members of the authority first appointed by the governor shall continue in office for a term expiring December 31, 2003. The term of each such member shall be designated by the governor and shall continue until his successor is duly appointed and qualified. The members appointed by the mayor shall continue in office for a term expiring December 31, 1999, and shall continue until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. The successor of each such member shall be appointed for a term of six years and until his successor is duly appointed and qualified, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term and until his successor is duly appointed and qualified. Each member of the authority shall be eligible for reappointment. Each member of the authority shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, if appointed by the governor, and each member of the authority may be removed by the governor, if appointed by the governor, or by the mayor, if appointed by the mayor. Each member of the authority before entering upon his duties shall take an oath before the governor to administer the duties of his office faithfully and impartially, and a record of such oaths shall be filed in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth. Members of the authority shall serve without compensation, but service as a member of the authority shall be credited to such member's years in service for pension and retirement purposes.