Rule 6. Appointment of Crime Victims Compensation Appeals Board members and alternates; designation of Chairperson; conduct of meetings; compensable expenses; conflicts of interest

(a) A Crime Victims Compensation Appeals Board ("Board") shall be established and

shall consist of five members from among the qualified membership of the Advisory

Commission, appointed by the Chief Judge to serve at his or her pleasure. At least one of

the members must be an attorney. The Chief Judge may appoint qualified members of

the Advisory Commission to serve as alternates on the Board in the event of the

unavailability of a Board member. Three Board members shall constitute a quorum,

provided that either the Chairperson or person designated to act as presiding officer in his

or her absence is present.

(b) The Chief Judge shall designate one member of the Appeals Board to serve as

Chairperson. The Chairperson shall serve as the presiding officer at all Board meetings

and hearings on contested claims. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Chairperson

shall designate a Board member to serve as presiding officer.

(c) The Appeals Board shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the Chairperson to

consider contested compensation claims. At least five days prior to the scheduled

meeting, the Program shall forward to the members of the Board and alternate Board

members the appeal documents and record of all cases in which an appeal has been filed.

The Chairperson, or the member designated to act as presiding officer in his or her

absence, shall prepare an agenda for each meeting and forward the agenda to each Board

member, alternate Board member, and the Program prior to the scheduled meeting. The

Board shall consider each case on the agenda and determine by majority vote of the

quorum whether the determination of the Program shall be affirmed, modified, or

reversed, or whether a hearing should be held prior to a decision of the Board.

l prepare an agenda for each meeting and forward the agenda to each Board

member, alternate Board member, and the Program prior to the scheduled meeting. The

Board shall consider each case on the agenda and determine by majority vote of the

quorum whether the determination of the Program shall be affirmed, modified, or

reversed, or whether a hearing should be held prior to a decision of the Board.

(d) Appeals Board members shall not be compensated, but may be reimbursed for

reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the Board's meetings. Requests for

reimbursement must be in writing, supported by receipts and filed with the Program

within 20 days of the meeting or hearing for which expense compensation is sought.

Reimbursement for expenses shall not exceed twenty dollars per member per meeting.

(e) An Appeals Board member who becomes aware of a conflict of interest shall report it

immediately, in writing, to the Chief Judge upon learning of the conflict. A conflict shall

exist if a Board member is aware of any circumstances which would impair the Appeals

Board member's ability to make an impartial decision concerning the claim, including but

not limited to (1) a personal or professional relationship between the Board member and

the claimant, offender, or an immediate family member of the claimant; or (2) personal

knowledge of the crime for which compensation is sought or persons related in any way

to the crime. The Chief Judge shall make a determination as to the existence of a conflict

and appoint an alternate, if necessary.