(A)

(1) There is hereby created the Ohio Lake Erie commission, consisting of the directors of environmental protection, natural resources, health, agriculture, transportation, and development services, or their designees, the two board members of the great lakes protection fund board appointed by the governor under section 1506.22 of the Revised Code who shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members, and five additional members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor shall appoint the five additional members not later than forty-five days after the effective date of this amendment. Of the initial five additional members appointed by the governor after the effective date of this amendment, two shall serve for a term ending on September 1, 2017, two shall serve for a term ending on September 1, 2018, and one shall serve for a term ending on September 1, 2019. Thereafter, all five additional members appointed by the governor shall serve three-year terms.

(2) All of the following apply to the five additional members appointed by the governor:

(a) Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed.

(b) In the event of the death, removal, resignation, or incapacity of a member, the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a successor who shall hold office for the remainder of the term for which the successor's predecessor was appointed.

(c) A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(d) Members may be reappointed for not more than two total terms.

(e) The governor at any time may remove a member for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office.

(3) Membership on the commission does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and is not grounds for removal of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of employment. Members may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The members of the commission annually shall designate a director or director's designee as chairperson, who shall preside at the meetings of the commission, and a secretary.

(4) The commission shall hold at least one meeting every three months. The secretary of the commission shall keep a record of its proceedings. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the chairperson or upon the request of four members of the commission. All meetings and records of the commission shall be open to the public. Six members of the commission constitute a quorum. The agencies represented on the commission shall furnish administrative, clerical, technical, and other services required by the commission in the performance of its duties.

(B) The commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure the coordination of funding and monitoring federal, state, and local policies , programs, and priorities pertaining to Lake Erie , including issues related to nutrient-related water quality and the beneficial use of dredged material. The commission shall prioritize policies, programs, and priorities identified in the Lake Erie protection and restoration strategy;

(2) Review, and make recommendations concerning, the development and implementation of policies, programs, and issues that are consistent with the great lakes water quality agreement and other international, federal, and state compacts and agreements;

(3)

Serve as a repository and clearinghouse for public information and data related to Lake Erie and the Lake Erie basin and collect and distribute such information and data at the commission's discretion;

(4) Publish and submit the Lake Erie protection and restoration strategy in accordance with division (C) of section 1506.23 of the Revised Code;

(5) Provide representation regarding the interests of this state in state, regional, national, and international forums pertaining to Lake Erie and the Lake Erie basin;

(6) Develop, implement, and coordinate an education, public information, and community relations program concerning he commission's policies, programs, issues, and the resources of Lake Erie;

(7) Develop and implement a marketing program promoting the sale of the Lake Erie license plate created under section 4503.52 of the Revised Code and other public and private fundraising initiatives to support the commission's programs;

(8) Establish and dissolve public advisory councils as considered necessary to assist in programs established under this section and sections 1506.22 and 1506.23 of the Revised Code. Members of the public advisory councils shall represent a broad cross section of interests, shall have experience or expertise in the subject for which the advisory council was established, and shall serve without compensation. Membership on a public advisory council does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and is not grounds for removal of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of employment. Members of a public advisory council may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(C) Each state agency, upon the request of the commission, shall cooperate in the implementation of this section and sections 1506.22 and 1506.23 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 2, §1, eff. 10/6/2017.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 06-30-1997 .

Related Legislative Provision: See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .