A. There is hereby created the “Industry Advisory Committee” within the Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center located at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Committee shall consist of one ex officio nonvoting member and fifteen appointed members. The Committee shall be advisory to the Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center. The Committee shall assist and advise the Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center in prioritizing projects, in setting fees, and in creating and designing joint ventures for the development and advancement of the production, processing, handling, and marketing of agricultural commodities, so the Center may meet the needs of the state's value-added processing entities.

B. The Committee shall consist of sixteen (16) members as follows:

1. The Dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Oklahoma State University shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member;

2. The Governor shall appoint four members to serve three-year terms, two of whom shall be nationally based food processors, one of whom shall be a member of the “Made in Oklahoma” organization, and one of whom shall represent a state, county, or city economic development agency. Of the members initially appointed, two shall serve a one-year term, one shall serve a two-year term, and one shall serve a three-year term;

3. The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint four members to serve three-year terms, one of whom shall be involved in food transportation, one of whom shall be involved in textiles, one of whom shall be involved in industrial or pharmaceutical products, and one of whom shall be an Oklahoma-based food processor. Of the members initially appointed, one shall serve a one-year term, two shall serve a two-year term, and one shall serve a three-year term;

4. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint four members to serve three-year terms, one of whom shall be involved in food marketing, one of whom shall be involved in food distribution, one of whom shall be involved in industrial or pharmaceutical products, and one of whom shall be an Oklahoma-based food processor. Of the members initially appointed, one shall serve a one-year term, one shall serve a two-year term, and two shall serve a three-year term; and

5. The Dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Oklahoma State University shall appoint three members to serve three-year terms, one of whom shall be an Oklahoma-based food processor, and two of whom shall be involved in production agriculture. Of the members initially appointed, one shall serve a one-year term, one shall serve a two-year term, and one shall serve a three-year term.

C. Any vacancies in the appointed membership of the Industry Advisory Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

D. The Committee shall elect from among its members a chair, vice-chair, and any other officers that the Committee determines necessary.

E. The Committee shall meet at least biannually.

F. The Committee may appoint subcommittees as necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to this section.

G. Members of the Committee shall not receive a salary for duties performed by the Committee. Members of the Committee shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act. The Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center shall be responsible for paying travel expenses.

H. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

I. The Oklahoma Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center shall provide staff assistance for the Committee.

Added by Laws 1996, c. 87, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996. Amended by Laws 2000, c. 243, § 53, emerg. eff. May 24, 2000.