(a) There is created the Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team (ADAPT) consisting of the following members:

(1) The Office of Water Resources Division Director or his or her designated representative.

(2) The AEMA Director or his or her designated representative.

(3) The ADEM Director or his or her designated representative.

(4) The Alabama Adjutant General or his or her designated representative.

(5) The AGI Commissioner or his or her designated representative.

(6) The ADCNR Commissioner or his or her designated representative.

(7) The Alabama State Forester or his or her designated representative.

(8) The State Geologist of Alabama or his or her designated representative.

(9) The State Climatologist of Alabama or his or her designated representative.

(10) The Chair of the Drought Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG) Subcommittee.

(11) A representative from Choctawhatchee Pea River Watershed Authority.

(12) Two members representing the state at large appointed by the Governor.

(13) The State Executive Director of the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, or his or her designee.

(14) The State Conservationist of the Alabama Natural Resource Conservation Service, or his or her designee.

(15) From time to time the Governor may appoint additional members of ADAPT as appropriate.

(16) In addition to the above members, the Chair of ADAPT is authorized to invite representatives from appropriate federal agencies and county government to be members of ADAPT. A federal and county government representative may participate in an ex officio capacity with no voting rights and shall not count towards a quorum.

(b) The Office of Water Resources Division Director, or his or her designee, shall serve as chair of ADAPT and the chair shall have the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:

(1) Call, chair, and conduct all meetings of ADAPT.

(2) Create and appoint members of any subcommittees; including the MIG. Membership of the MIG shall be based upon an individual's drought-related expertise or experience and may include both members and nonmembers of ADAPT.

(3) Appoint the chair of the MIG.

(c) ADAPT shall have the following duties, powers, and responsibilities:

(1) To provide advice to the Office of Water Resources on the development of a statewide drought plan.

(2) To assess drought conditions in the state, based on input from the MIG.

(3) To advise the Governor when a drought emergency exists either statewide or in an area or areas of the state.

(4) To make recommendations to the Governor for any mandatory water withdrawal restrictions or reductions that he or she may wish to order.

(5) To establish procedures for the operations and meetings of ADAPT and any subcommittees.

(6) To administer and spend such funds as are appropriated by the Legislature or provided from other sources for the establishment and administration of ADAPT. ADECA shall serve as the administrative and financial support of ADAPT.

(7) ADAPT shall have at least one standing subcommittee which shall be known as the Monitoring and Impact Group (MIG) whose duties shall be to conduct meetings and report recommendations to ADAPT. The MIG shall collect and summarize information relating to drought conditions and forecasts including rainfall, stream flows, reservoir elevations, soil moisture, and groundwater levels, as well as the impacts of these conditions and forecasts on public water supplies, the environment, agriculture, industry, and recreation. The MIG may also recommend responses and strategies necessary to mitigate drought effects on Alabama. The MIG Chair shall provide a summary of drought conditions at the request of the ADAPT Chair and at each ADAPT meeting.

(8) ADAPT may establish other subcommittees as needed.

(d) ADAPT shall meet at least twice annually.

(e) Members of ADAPT appointed as at-large members shall be eligible to receive compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage, or associated expenses in accordance with state travel policies and procedures which shall be allocated by ADECA. Officials or other state employees who are appointed or designated to ADAPT shall be allowed to participate in ADAPT as part of their duties and may claim per diem, mileage, or associated expenses as allowed by law.

(f) If ADAPT determines that the severity of the conditions in a drought area of the state or the whole state have progressed to the extent that the safety or health of the citizens of an area of the state or of the whole state is threatened, ADAPT shall expeditiously report those conditions to the Governor. In coordination with the AEMA, ADAPT shall also present to the Governor a priority list of recommended actions designed to mitigate the effects of drought conditions. Preservation of drinking water for citizens and water for human health and safety shall be the first priority.