Public Charter School Commission Established}

(A) This Act establishes a state public charter school commission (the “Commission”) as an independent state agency with statewide chartering jurisdiction and authority.

(B) The mission of the Commission shall be to authorize high-quality public charter schools throughout the state consistent with the intent of this Act.

(C) The Commission shall consist of:

(1) Nine members, no more than five of whom shall be members of the same political party. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor; three members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; and three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In making the appointments, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall ensure statewide geographic diversityamong Commission members.

(2) Members appointed to the Commission shall collectively possess strong experience and expertise in public and nonprofit governance, management and finance, public school leadership, assessment, and curriculum and instruction, and public education law. All members of the Commission shall have demonstrated understanding of and commitment to charter schooling as a strategy for strengthening public education.

(3) To establish staggered terms of office, the initial term of office for three Commission members shall be four years and thereafter shall be three years; the initial term of office for another three members shall be three years and thereafter shall be three years; and the initial term of office for the last three members shall be two years and thereafter shall be two years. No member shall serve more than