(a) There is created the Alabama First Responder Wireless Commission, which shall be responsible for promoting the efficient use of public resources to ensure that law enforcement, fire and rescue services, and essential public health and emergency support personnel have effective communication services available in emergency situations, and to ensure the rapid restoration of such communication services in the event of disruption caused by natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other public emergency.

(b) The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Governor or his or her designee.

(2) The Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation or his or her designee.

(3) The Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or his or her designee.

(4) The Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs or his or her designee.

(5) The Director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency or his or her designee.

(6) The Director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security or his or her designee.

(7) The Director of the Alabama Department of Corrections or his or her designee.

(8) The Director of the Alabama Department of Finance or his or her designee.

(9) The Director of the Alabama Department of Public Health or his or her designee.

(10) The President of the Alabama Sheriff's Association or his or her designee.

(11) The President of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police or his or her designee.

(12) The President of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments or his or her designee.

(13) The Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard or his or her designee.

(14) The Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or his or her designee.

(15) The Administrator of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board or his or her designee.

(16) The President of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers or his or her designee.

(17) The President of the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs or his or her designee.

(18) The President of the Alabama Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association or his or her designee.

(19) The President of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama or his or her designee.

(20) The President of the Alabama League of Municipalities or his or her designee.

(21) The Tribal Chair of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians or his or her designee.

(22) The President of the Alabama Association of 9-1-1 Districts or his or her designee.

(23) The President of the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads or his or her designee.

(24) The Chairperson of the Alabama Forestry Commission or his or her designee.

(25) The Chairperson of the Federal Communication Commission Region 1 700 Mhz Regional Planning Committee or his or her designee.

(26) The Statewide Interoperability Coordinator for Alabama or his or her designee.

(27) The Alabama State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

(28) The Director of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries or his or her designee.

(c) The members of the commission shall serve a term of not less than two years.

(d) By October 1, 2013, the Director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security shall call a meeting of the commission in the City of Montgomery, Alabama, to elect from its membership a chair, vice chair, and other officers as the director deems necessary. The commission shall adopt rules to govern its proceedings but shall meet at least quarterly. A majority of the membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum for all meetings. A written record shall be maintained of all meetings.

(e) Members of the commission shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses when approved by the chair and incurred in the performance of their duties but no other compensation.

(f) The commission may employ or contract for an executive director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and who shall be responsible directly to the commission for the general supervision and execution of the work of the commission. The commission shall fix his or her compensation, with the approval of the Governor, and shall further designate his or her duties and authority.

(g) The commission may employ, on a part-time or full-time basis, such engineers, attorneys, laborers, technicians, or administrative employees and supervisory or professional personnel as may be necessary or advisable to carry out in the most efficient and beneficial manner the purposes and provisions of this chapter. All permanent full-time employees, other than the executive director, shall be subject to the state Merit System.