(a) The Alaska Tourism Marketing Board is created in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.

(b) The board consists of 21 members as follows:

(1) 18 members appointed by the governor who are members of the leading statewide nonprofit tourism association and who represent different segments of the tourism industry and company sizes and the following regions of the state:

(A) Southeast;

(B) Southcentral;

(C) Southwest;

(D) Interior; and

(E) Far North;

(2) the commissioner of commerce, community, and economic development or the commissioner's designee;

(3) one member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, who shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the board; and

(4) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the board.

(c) Before making the appointments under (b)(1) of this section, the governor shall identify the leading statewide nonprofit tourism marketing association.

(d) The governor may appoint the members under (b)(1) of this section from a list of nominees for each seat submitted by the leading statewide nonprofit tourism marketing association. The governor may reject a list for any seat submitted under this subsection and request that another list be submitted.

(e) The term of office of a member of the board appointed under (b)(1) of this section is three years.

(f) The board shall annually elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members. Nine members of the board including at least one member representing each region listed under (b)(1) of this section constitute a quorum. The board shall meet at least twice a year. The chair shall set the time and place of the meeting, either on the chair's own motion or on written request by three members of the board. The board is encouraged to meet electronically.

(g) The members of the board do not receive a salary for service on the board. The members of the board appointed under (b)(2) - (4) of this section are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized by law for other boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. The members of the board appointed under (b)(1) of this section are not entitled to per diem or travel expenses.

(h) The board shall

(1) cooperate with the department to plan and execute a destination tourism marketing campaign that is in the public interest; and

(2) make recommendations to the department regarding tourism marketing.

(i) In this section,

(1) “board” means the Alaska Tourism Marketing Board;

(2) “department” means the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.