2011 Kansas Code
Chapter 74. - STATE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND AUTHORITIES
Article 99e. - KANSAS COMMISSION ON RURAL POLICY
74-99e02 Creation of commission; organization, duties and powers; assistance from department of commerce.

74-99e02. Creation of commission; organization, duties and powers; assistance from department of commerce. (a) There is hereby established a body politic and corporate to be known as the Kansas commission on rural policy. The commission shall be an independent instrumentality of the state. The exercise by the commission of the powers conferred by this act shall be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

(b) (1) The Kansas commission on rural policy shall consist of 12 members.

(2) Nine members of the commission shall be voting members appointed as follows: Three shall be appointed by the governor, two shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two shall be appointed by the president of the senate, one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives and one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. Each person appointed to the commission shall be recognized for outstanding knowledge and leadership in one of the following business sectors or key areas:

(A) Agriculture;

(B) oil and gas;

(C) aviation;

(D) finance and banking;

(E) tourism;

(F) any other primary, job creating, value added business sector;

(G) fostering leadership;

(H) encouraging wealth retention and generation;

(I) developing entrepreneurship;

(J) retaining youth in rural communities; and

(K) health care.

(3) (A) Except as provided by paragraph (B) for members first appointed to the commission, voting members shall be appointed for terms of four years and until a successor is appointed and qualified.

(B) The terms of the voting members first appointed to the commission shall expire as follows: The terms of members appointed by the governor shall expire on June 30, 2012; the terms of members appointed by the president and minority leader of the senate shall expire on June 30, 2011; and the terms of members appointed by the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives shall expire on June 30, 2010.

(4) The other three members of the commission shall serve ex officio: The secretary of commerce, the secretary of agriculture and the president of Kansas, Inc. Each ex officio member of the commission may designate an officer or employee of the state agency or organization of the ex officio member to serve on the commission in place of the ex officio member. The ex officio members of the commission, or their designees, shall be nonvoting members of the commission and shall provide information and advice to the commission.

(c) The commission shall elect annually from among its voting members a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary. Five voting members of the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of five members shall be necessary for any action taken by the commission. No vacancy in the membership of the commission shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the commission.

(d) Members of the commission attending any meeting of the commission or any subcommittee meeting authorized by the commission shall be paid amounts as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto.

(e) All resolutions and orders of the commission shall be recorded and authenticated by the signature of the secretary or a person designated by the secretary. The book of resolutions, orders, minutes of open meetings, annual reports and annual financial statements of the commission shall be public records as defined by K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., and amendments thereto. All public records shall be subject to regular audit as provided in K.S.A. 46-1106, and amendments thereto.

(f) The commission is hereby authorized to engage legal counsel, expert advisers or executive staff to carry out the duties of the commission. Compensation for such counsel, advisers or staff shall be determined by the commission within the limits of available funds.

(g) The commission is hereby authorized to accept grants, gifts, bequests and other financial or in-kind contributions.

(h) To facilitate the organization and start-up of the commission, the department of commerce shall provide administrative assistance until such time as the commission has resources to provide staffing on its own. In no event shall such assistance continue beyond September 1, 2010.