143A-66.2. Forestry Council - members; chairperson; selection; removal; compensation; quorum.

(a) The Forestry Advisory Council of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall consist of 18 members appointed as follows:

(1) Three persons who are registered foresters and who represent the primary forest products industry, one each from the Mountains, Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

(2) One person who represents the secondary wood-using industry.

(3) One person who represents the logging industry.

(4) Four persons who are nonindustrial woodland owners actively involved in forest management, one of whom has agricultural interests, and at least one each from the Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

(5) Three persons who are members of statewide environmental or wildlife conservation organizations.

(6) One consulting forester.

(7) Two persons who are forest scientists with knowledge of the functioning and management of forest ecosystems.

(8) One person who represents a banking institution that manages forestland.

(9) One person with expertise in urban forestry.

(10) One person with active experience in city and regional planning.

(b) The Governor shall appoint one person from categories (1) and (5), two persons from category (4), and the persons from categories (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10). The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint the person from category (2) and one person each from categories (1), (4), and (5). The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the person from category (3) and one person each from categories (1), (4), and (5). The Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall consult with one another to insure that each of the three geographic regions of the State are represented in appointments made to fill categories (1) and (4).

(c) The Governor shall designate one member of the Council to serve as chairperson at the pleasure of the Governor.

(d) Members shall serve staggered terms of office of four years. The terms of office of members filling categories (1), (4), and (5) shall expire on 30 June of years that follow by one year those years that are evenly divisible by four. The terms of office of members filling categories (2), (3), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) shall expire on 30 June of years that follow by three years those years that are evenly divisible by four. Terms shall expire as provided by this subsection except that members of the Council shall serve until their successors are appointed and duly qualified as provided by G.S. 128-7. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council created by the resignation, dismissal, death or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term and shall be made by the appointing authority responsible for that category. Vacancies in appointments made by the General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122.

(e) The Governor shall have the power to remove, in accordance with G.S. 143B-13, any member appointed by the Governor. The General Assembly shall have the power to remove, in accordance with G.S. 143B-13, any member appointed by the General Assembly.

(f) Members of the Council shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5.

(g) A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(h) All clerical and other services required by the Council, including the support required to carry out studies it is requested to make, shall be supplied by the Commissioner of Agriculture.