(a) There is established a Vietnam Herbicides Information Commission which shall obtain information relating to the health effects of exposure to Vietnam herbicides for veterans of this state who may have been exposed to these substances during their period of military service.

(b) The commission shall consist of nine members, who shall serve for a term of five years, one of whom shall be the commissioner or his designee. The remaining members shall be appointed as follows: The president pro tempore of the Senate shall appoint two members, the minority leader of the Senate shall appoint two members, the speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members and the minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members. There shall be at least six honorably discharged veterans on the commission, four of whom shall have served in the Vietnam theater of operations. One member of the commission shall be a toxicologist and one member shall be a epidemiologist, each of whom shall be licensed by the state.

(c) The commission shall elect a chairperson from among its members. Vacancies in the membership of the commission and its officers shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment or election. The commission shall meet at least four times a year at the call of the chairperson. The initial meeting of the commission shall be called by the commissioner not later than September 1, 1982. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

(d) The commission shall cease to exist on June 30, 1990.