(a) There is established a Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism.
(b) The purposes of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism are to:
(1) Assist the community engagement program and staff of the Director's Office of the Division of Higher Education in setting goals, establishing priority activities, performing an advocacy role, and assisting in funding and resource development and publicity and recognition and awards programs; and
(2) Serve as the Arkansas Service Commission for the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, as governed by 42 U.S.C. § 12638.
(c)
(1) The Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism shall consist of fifteen (15) to twenty-five (25) voting members to be appointed by the Governor.
(2) The voting members shall include:
(A) One (1) or more members with expertise in the educational, training, and developmental needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth;
(B) One (1) or more members with experience in promoting the involvement of older adults in service and volunteering;
(C) One (1) or more members representing community-based agencies or community-based organizations;
(D) One (1) or more members representing local governments;
(E) One (1) or more members representing local labor organizations;
(F) One (1) or more members representing business;
(G) One (1) or more members between sixteen (16) and twenty-five (25) years of age who is a participant or supervisor in a volunteer or service program;
(H) One (1) or more members representing a national service program described in 42 U.S.C. § 12572, as it existed on January 1, 2015;
(I) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education or his or her designee; and
(J) One (1) or more members representing the volunteer sector.
(3) The voting members may also include:
(A) One (1) or more members selected from among local educators;
(B) One (1) or more members selected from among experts in the delivery of human, educational, environmental, or public safety services to communities and persons;
(C) One (1) or more representatives of Native American tribes;
(D) One (1) or more members selected from among out-of-school youth or other at-risk youth; and
(E) One (1) or more representatives of entities that receive assistance under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. § 4950 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2015.
(4) The Corporation for National and Community Service may appoint an ex officio nonvoting member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism.
(5) The number of voting members who are state employees or officers may not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total membership.
(6)
(A) The Governor shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the membership of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism is diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, age, gender, and disability characteristics.
(B) Not more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting members, plus one (1) additional member, may be from the same political party.
(d)
(1) A member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years.
(2) The members initially appointed shall draw lots for staggered terms, such that an equal number of terms shall expire each calendar year.
(3)
(A) In the event of a vacancy, the Governor shall appoint an eligible member to serve the remainder of the term.
(B) The vacancy shall not affect the power of the remaining members to execute the duties of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism.
(e) The voting members of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism shall elect one (1) of the voting members to serve as chair.
(f) A member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism shall serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursements in accordance with § 25-16-902.
(g) [Repealed.]