2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 3 - Agriculture and Forestry
RS 3:559.23 - Louisiana Aquatic Chelonian Research and Promotion Board

§559.23. Louisiana Aquatic Chelonian Research and Promotion Board

A. The Louisiana Aquatic Chelonian Research and Promotion Board is hereby created within the department. The board shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

B. The board shall consist of ten members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the commissioner and confirmed by the Senate, as follows:

(1) Two members shall be licensed farmers appointed from a list of four persons nominated by the Louisiana Turtle Farmers Association.

(2) Two members shall be licensed farmers appointed from a list of four persons nominated by the Independent Turtle Farmers of Louisiana, Inc.

(3) Two members shall be licensed farmers appointed from a list of four persons nominated by the Pet Turtle Cooperative Association, Inc.

(4) Two members shall be licensed farmers who are not a member of any of the trade organizations listed in this Subsection.

(5) One member with knowledge of the aquatic chelonian industry shall be appointed at large.

C. The commissioner, or his designee, shall serve ex officio and shall have all rights and responsibilities of appointed members. The commissioner or his designee shall be counted for purposes of constituting a quorum.

D. At the same time and in the same manner, the commissioner shall appoint one alternate for each appointed member. The alternate appointed to represent a member nominated by a trade group shall be appointed from the list of four persons submitted by the respective trade group. When a member is unable to be present at any meeting of the board, his alternate shall serve in his place. Any alternate serving in the place of a member shall exercise all of the powers vested by law in the member, including the right to vote.

E. Appointed members and their alternates shall serve terms concurrent with the term of the commissioner making the appointment.

F. Vacancies in the offices of the members and alternates shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. If the position of any member or alternate appointed from a list of persons submitted by one of the trade groups named in this Section becomes vacant, then the commissioner shall call for a list of names from the appropriate trade group. If any trade group named in this Section becomes defunct or does not submit a full list of names to the commissioner within thirty days after he requests a list of names, then the commissioner may appoint any licensed turtle farmer not already appointed to the board to fill a vacancy. Persons appointed to fill vacancies shall serve out the unexpired portion of the memberships to which they have been appointed.

G. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

H. Members of the board shall not receive any salary for their duties as members. Members may receive a per diem for each day spent in actual attendance of meetings of the board, in an amount not to exceed forty dollars. Members may receive a mileage allowance for mileage traveled in attending meetings, not to exceed the mileage rate for state employees. Members shall not receive per diem or mileage for more than six meetings in any calendar year.

I. The board may meet on the call of the chairman or upon the request of any three members. All meetings of the board and all minutes and records thereof shall be subject to R.S. 42:11 et seq. and R.S. 44:1 et seq.

J. The board, by a vote of a majority of the members, may expel a member or alternate for good cause shown. Good cause shall include but shall not be limited to three consecutive unexcused absences. The expulsion of a member or alternate creates a vacancy in the office of the expelled member or alternate.

Acts 2004, No. 913, §1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2010, No. 495, §1, eff. June 24, 2010.