(1) There is hereby created in Colorado state university's college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences the veterinary education loan repayment council, referred to in this part 10 as the "council". The council shall be under the direct supervision of the dean of Colorado state university's college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences or the dean's designee. The dean or the dean's designee may authorize staff assistance to provide administrative support for the council if such staff assistance can be provided within Colorado state university's existing appropriations.
(2) (a) The council consists of five directors appointed by the governor. A director of the council:
Must not be an elected official;
May serve up to three consecutive terms; and
Shall not receive compensation for his or her membership on the council but maybe reimbursed for any necessary and reasonable expenses incurred while performing his or her duties as a director of the council.
(b) (I) On or before October 1, 2017, the governor shall appoint the initial five directors of the council. The council must include the following representatives:
At least one director must be a member of the faculty or staff of Colorado stateuniversity's college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences;
The commissioner of agriculture or his or her designee;
At least one director must be associated with, and able to represent the interests of,the Colorado livestock industries; and
At least one director must be associated with, and able to represent the interests of,the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.
Of the initial five directors, three serve for four-year terms and two serve for twoyear terms. All subsequent terms are four-year terms.
Unless extenuating circumstances such as illness or death require otherwise, eachdirector shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed.
The governor, at his or her pleasure, may remove a director of the council at anytime. If a director vacates his or her seat on the council during the term for which the director was appointed, the governor shall fill the resultant vacancy by appointing a director for the remainder of that term. The successor director must meet the same qualifications under this section as his or her predecessor.
(a) At the first meeting of the council, and as necessary thereafter, the directors shall appoint from their membership a chair and vice-chair of the council, who have joint authority over the council's financial matters, including loan repayment authorizations based on the council's approval of loan repayment applications.
Pursuant to section 24-6-402, the council shall conduct all business at regular orspecial meetings that are open to the public. The council shall meet as often as necessary to perform its duties under this part 10.
Council action requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the total membership ofthe council.
Source: L. 2017: Entire part added, (HB 17-1282), ch. 322, p. 1734, § 1, effective August 9.