§9-2-14. Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources - Created; composition; qualifications, appointment, terms of office, and compensation of members; residency requirements; meetings; record of meetings and proceedings; transitional members.

(a) There shall be an Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources. The board shall consist of the Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, the Director of the Agricultural Extension System ex officio, and 10 other members to be appointed by the Governor, one of whom the Governor shall designate as chair of the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources. The appointed members of the board shall be selected with special reference to training and experience along one or more of the principal lines of activity vested in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The term of office of each appointed member of the board shall be six years. Of members first appointed, however, two members shall be appointed for two years, three members shall be appointed for four years, two members shall be appointed for five years and three members shall be appointed for six years. The members of the board shall receive no salary or compensation as members of the board, but shall be reimbursed for expenses of travel, meals, and lodging while in the performance of their duties as members of the board, pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 36.

(b) After July 1, 1998, the members of the advisory board appointed by the Governor shall be appointed so that one member of the board is a resident of each congressional district as the districts are constituted on January 1, 1998, and no more than two members are residents of the same congressional district. If a member appointed from a congressional district ceases to be a resident of the district from which appointed, the member shall vacate his or her office. This subsection shall not affect the term or reappointment of any current member of the board.

(c) The board shall hold semiannual regular meetings at the time and place designated by the chair of the board or the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources. The chair of the board or the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources may call special meetings as may be necessary.

(d) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources shall be ex officio secretary of the board and shall keep minutes of all meetings and a record of all proceedings of the board. The commissioner shall receive no additional compensation for the services.

(e) On a transitional basis, one additional transitional member of the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources shall be appointed by the Governor from each congressional district as constituted on January 1, 1998, which is not currently represented on the board. A transitional member shall serve a term of six years or until a permanent member of the advisory board is appointed to represent the congressional district where the transitional member resides. A transitional member may be appointed a permanent member to a full term of office. Transitional members of the board shall have the same powers, rights, and duties, and shall be reimbursed for expenses as other members of the advisory board during their service on the board.

(Acts 1939, No. 162, p. 255, §9; Code 1940, T. 8, §8; Acts 1945, No. 219, p. 342, §1; Acts 1973, No. 1248, p. 2096, §1; Act 98-383, p. 729, §§1, 2.)