(a) There is created and established an Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.
(b) The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission shall be composed of fifteen (15) members:
(1)
(A) The Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint eight (8) members.
(B) Each congressional district shall be represented on the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission by at least one (1) member, and no district shall have more than two (2) members of the eight (8) appointees.
(C)
(i) The Governor shall not appoint a member to represent any specific or special interest group, organization, or philosophy.
(ii) However, in making appointments to the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, the Governor shall appoint individuals who have knowledge or expertise in matters within the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, including government, business or industry, agriculture and livestock, forestry, health, ecology, recreation and tourism, and geology.
(D) Each member appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years; and
(2) The other seven (7) members of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission shall be:
(A) The Secretary of the Department of Health, or his or her designee;
(B) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, or his or her designee;
(C) The Director of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, or his or her designee;
(D) The State Forester, or his or her designee on behalf of the Arkansas Forestry Commission;
(E) The Director of the Oil and Gas Commission, or his or her designee;
(F) The Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, or his or her designee; and
(G) The State Geologist, or his or her designee, on behalf of the Arkansas Geological Survey.
(c) Elected city, county, and state officials shall not serve on the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission after the expiration of any current member's term.
(d) In the event of a vacancy in the membership of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, the Governor shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy temporarily who shall serve until the next meeting of the Senate, when some person shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the consent and approval of the Senate, to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
(e)
(1) The chair and vice chair shall be elected annually.
(2) The members of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission representing the state agencies shall not serve as chair or vice chair.
(f)
(1)
(A) The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission shall hold at least four (4) regular meetings in each calendar year at times and places to be fixed by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission and such other meetings as may be necessary.
(B) Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the chair, and they shall be called by him or her upon written request of two (2) members of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission by delivery of written notice to each member of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.
(2) Nine (9) members of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission shall constitute a quorum to transact business in both regular and special meetings.
(g)
(1) Each member of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission representing state agencies shall receive no additional salary or per diem for services as a member of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.
(2) The other seven (7) members appointed by the Governor may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.