(a) There is established in the department the Board of Agriculture and Conservation composed of members as set out in AS 03.10.050(b).
(b) Members of the board serve staggered three-year terms and until a successor is appointed. A member may be removed from office by the governor if the governor first provides a written statement of the reasons for removal to the member and makes the statement available to the public. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall immediately appoint a member for the unexpired portion of the term.
(c) Members of the board receive no compensation, but are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180.
(d) While serving on the board, a board member, or an immediate family member of the board member who shares the same household and financial resources with that board member, may not obtain a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan or purchase land under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05, or have an existing lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05 modified or restructured. Notwithstanding AS 39.52.150(a), an immediate family member who does not share the same household and financial resources with the board member may obtain a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan or purchase land under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05 or have an existing lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or under AS 38.05 modified or restructured. Notwithstanding AS 39.52.150(a), a person may be appointed to the board even though, at the time of appointment, that person, or an immediate family member, has a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or AS 38.05. However, that person may not take or withhold any official action that affects the lease, permit, installment contract, or loan of that person or an immediate family member who shares the same household and financial resources with that person. If a person with a lease, permit, installment contract, or loan under AS 03.10 or AS 38.05 is appointed to the board, failure by that person to abide by all the terms and conditions of the lease, permit, installment contract, or loan may be the basis for removal under (b) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, “immediate family member” and “official action” have the meanings given in AS 39.52.960.
(e) The board shall elect a member to serve as chair and a member to serve as vice-chair for one-year terms. A member may be reelected to serve additional terms as chair or vice-chair.