2006 Utah Code - 4-18-4 — Soil Conservation Commission created -- Composition -- Appointment -- Terms -- Compensation -- Attorney general to provide legal assistance.

     4-18-4.   Soil Conservation Commission created -- Composition -- Appointment -- Terms -- Compensation -- Attorney general to provide legal assistance.
     (1) There is established, to serve as an agency of the state and functioning within the Department of Agriculture and Food the Soil Conservation Commission to perform the functions specified in this chapter.
     (2) The Soil Conservation Commission shall be comprised of 12 members as follows:
     (a) the director of the Extension Service at Utah State University, or his designee;
     (b) the president of the Association of Soil Conservation Districts, or his designee;
     (c) the commissioner, or his designee;
     (d) the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, or his designee;
     (e) the executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or his designee; and
     (f) seven district supervisors who provide district representation on the commission on a multicounty basis.
     (3) If a district supervisor is unable to attend a meeting, an alternate may serve in his place.
     (4) The members of the commission specified in Subsection (2)(f) shall:
     (a) be recommended by the commission to the governor; and
     (b) be appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate.
     (5) (a) Except as required by Subsection (5)(b), as terms of current commission members expire, the governor shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a four-year term.
     (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (5)(a), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of commission members are staggered so that approximately half of the commission is appointed every two years.
     (6) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be appointed for the unexpired term.
     (7) The commissioner is chair of the commission.
     (8) Attendance of a majority of the commission members at a meeting constitutes a quorum.
     (9) (a) (i) Members who are not government employees shall receive no compensation or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
     (ii) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
     (b) (i) State government officer and employee members who do not receive salary, per diem, or expenses from their agency for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties from the commission at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
     (ii) State government officer and employee members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
     (c) (i) Higher education members who do not receive salary, per diem, or expenses from the entity that they represent for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties from the committee at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.

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     (ii) Higher education members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
     (d) (i) Local government members who do not receive salary, per diem, or expenses from the entity that they represent for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
     (ii) Local government members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.
     (10) The commission shall keep a record of its actions.
     (11) The attorney general shall provide legal services to the commission upon request.

Amended by Chapter 176, 2002 General Session