(a)
(1)
(A) The Director of the State Plant Board shall appoint an arbitration committee composed of six (6) members and six (6) alternate members with one (1) member and one (1) alternate to be appointed upon the recommendation of each of the following:
(i) The President of the Arkansas Seed Growers Association;
(ii) The President of the Arkansas Seed Dealers Association;
(iii) The President of the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation; and
(iv) The President of the Agricultural Council of Arkansas.
(B) Terms for seed grower, seed dealer, farm bureau, and agricultural council members shall be for four (4) years.
(2) The members and alternates shall be confirmed by the Governor.
(3)
(A) The Director of the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, or his or her designee or alternate, and the Director of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, or his or her designee or alternate, shall serve as ex officio members.
(B) Ex officio members shall serve until replaced by their organizations.
(4) Recommending organizations shall submit member recommendations not less than thirty (30) days before the expiration day of an expiring term.
(5) Each alternate member shall serve only in the absence of the member for whom he or she is an alternate.
(6) Members of the committee may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.
(b)
(1) The committee shall elect a chairperson from its membership and the Director of the State Plant Board, or his or her designee, shall serve as secretary of the committee and shall not vote.
(2) It is the duty of the chairperson to conduct all meetings and deliberations held by the committee and to direct all other activities of the committee.
(3) It is the duty of the secretary to keep accurate and correct records on all meetings and deliberations and perform other duties for the committee as directed by the chairperson.