2012 Arkansas Code
Title 15 - Natural Resources and Economic Development
Subtitle 1 - Development Of Economic And Natural Resources Generally
Chapter 6 - Arkansas Rural Development Program Act
§ 15-6-104 - Arkansas Rural Development Commission.

(a) There is established the Arkansas Rural Development Commission, which shall consist of eleven (11) members from rural areas.

(b) The members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) (A) (i) There shall be seven (7) members of the commission appointed by the Governor to serve for terms of five (5) years;

(ii) One (1) member shall be appointed from each of the four (4) congressional districts of the state as constituted January 1, 1990, and shall be a resident of a rural area of that congressional district; and

(iii) Three (3) members shall be appointed from the state at large and shall be residents of a rural area.

(B) In the event of a vacancy on the commission in one (1) of the Governor's appointee positions due to death, resignation, or other reason, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by appointment by the Governor of a person meeting the same qualifications required for initial appointment.

(C) (i) Except as provided in subdivisions (b)(1)(C)(ii)-(iv) of this section, members of the commission shall not be eligible for reappointment.

(ii) A member appointed to fill the unexpired portion of a term may be reappointed to serve a five-year term.

(iii) A member appointed to a five-year term by the Governor shall not be eligible for reappointment by the Governor but may be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(iv) The Governor may appoint to a five-year term a person previously appointed to the commission by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(2) Two (2) members shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and two (2) members shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(c) The commission shall select by majority vote one (1) of its members to serve as chair and one (1) to serve as vice chair.

(d) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, provided that, in the event funds shall be appropriated for such purposes, the members may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-902.