(a) The Vermont Fire Service Training Council is created. The Council shall consist of 12 members. The Commissioner of Labor, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Director of Fire Safety, the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Secretary of Education, and the Commissioner of Health, or their designees, shall serve as ex officio members of the Council. Six members shall be appointed by the Governor for three-year terms. Of the appointed members, the Governor shall appoint one member who during incumbency is a representative of the Vermont Career Fire Chiefs Association; one member who, at the time of appointment, is a representative of the Professional Firefighters of Vermont; one member, who, at the time of appointment, is a representative of the Vermont Fire Chiefs Association and who is a fire chief of a volunteer fire department; one member who, at the time of appointment, is a representative of the Vermont State Firefighters Association and who is a volunteer firefighter; one member who during incumbency is an employee, officer, or director of an insurance company domiciled in this State and subject to the assessment under 32 V.S.A. § 8557; and one member of the public who is not involved in fire service. To the extent possible, appointments shall be geographically representative.

(b) Members of the Council shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual mileage traveled at the rate paid State employees.

(c) A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. The Council shall act only by vote of a majority of its members present and voting at a meeting at which there is a quorum.

(d) The Council shall meet at least twice a year. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson or upon request of a majority of the members of the Council.

(e) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the membership of the Council, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment with a person whose appointment shall terminate on the date on which the original appointment would have terminated if the vacancy had not occurred. (Added 1987, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1995, No. 41, § 1; 2003, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. April 1, 2005; 2005, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 5, 2006; 2007, No. 8, § 1; 2007, No. 190 (Adj. Sess.), § 35, eff. June 6, 2008; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 261.)