(1) There is hereby established a Colorado wine industry development board in the department of agriculture for the purpose of encouraging and promoting viticultural and enological research and experimentation to develop maximum yields and quality from Colorado lands suitable to the production of grapes for commercial wine production, to promote the marketing of wines and wine grapes produced in Colorado, to promote the responsible consumption of all wines, to promote the integration of the Colorado wine industry as a component of the state's tourism program, and to serve as a resource for the entire wine industry of Colorado. The board shall exercise its powers and perform its duties and functions specified by this article under the department of agriculture as if the same were transferred to the department by a type 1 transfer, as such transfer is defined in the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968", article 1 of title 24, C.R.S.
(2) (a) The board shall consist of nine members appointed by the governor. In making appointments, the governor shall take into consideration any nominations or recommendations made by the wine industry organization in Colorado.
(b) (I) Five of the appointments shall be representatives of licensed wineries in the state. Of such five appointments, one shall be a representative of licensed wineries in the western slope, one shall be a representative of licensed wineries in the grand valley viticultural area, one shall be a representative of licensed wineries in the eastern slope, and two shall be at-large representatives. The appointment of at-large members shall reflect the proportion of fees and excise taxes paid by wineries in each of the three regions. At least one of the winery representatives shall also be a grower.
Two appointments shall be representatives of the wholesale wine distributors in Colorado.
One appointment shall be a representative of wine grape producers.
One appointment shall be a representative of the retail wine distributors in Colorado.
A representative of the board of directors of the Colorado tourism office, a representative of Colorado state university, and a member of the public must be invited to serve on the board in an ex officio capacity.
Each member of the board shall be a resident of Colorado.
Each member of the board shall be at least twenty-one years of age.
Members of the board serve for terms of four years each to continue in office until asuccessor is appointed and qualified; except that, in the case of a vacancy on the board, an appointment is for the remainder of the unexpired term. The governor shall not appoint a member to more than two consecutive four-year terms; except that any member appointed for less than two years in the case of a vacancy may be appointed upon the expiration of the shorter term to serve up to two additional four-year terms. Members may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms until the appointment of a successor.
Repealed.
Members of the board shall receive no compensation for their service on the board,but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary travel and other actual expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The board shall adopt uniform and reasonable regulations governing the incurring and paying of such expenses.
Source: L. 90: Entire article added, p. 1599, § 1, effective July 1. L. 97: (2)(a) to (2)(c), (3), and (4) amended, p. 299, § 7, effective July 1. L. 2017: (3) amended and (4) repealed, (HB 17-1189), ch. 153, p. 518, § 1, effective April 28. L. 2020: (2)(c) amended, (SB 20-136), ch. 70, p. 290, § 32, effective September 14.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 20-136, see section 1 of chapter 70, Session Laws of Colorado 2020.