MONTPELIER, Vt.—The leaders of the Vermont House and Senate announced the appointment of a commission July 25 to decide whether the legislature should consider allowing gay marriage in the state.

The 10-member commission is led by former state Rep. Tom Little, who served as chairman of the Vermont House Judiciary Committee when the legislature passed the law legalizing civil unions in the state in 2000.

The volunteer commission is to complete its study by next spring, so it’s unlikely the legislature could consider a gay marriage bill before 2009.

“We think this conversation should start with Vermonters,” Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington said. “When we passed civil unions it started by necessity in the legislature. We think this belongs in the realm of Vermonters.”