(A) The commission may adopt an official seal for use on official documents of the department.

(B) The commission shall elect a chairman and adopt its own rules and procedures and may select such additional officers to serve such terms as the commission may designate.

(C) Commissioners must be reimbursed for official expenses as provided by law for members of state boards and commissions as established in the annual general appropriations act.

(D) All commission members are eligible to vote on all matters that come before the commission.

(E) The commission shall hold a minimum of six regular meetings annually, and other meetings may be called by the chair upon giving at least one week's notice to all members and the public. Emergency meetings may be held with twenty-four hours' notice. Meeting materials for the regularly scheduled meetings shall be published at least twenty-four hours in advance of the meeting.

(F) The commission or a member thereof may not enter into the day-to-day operations of the department, except in an oversight role with the Secretary of Transportation, and is specifically prohibited from taking part in:

(1) the awarding of contracts;

(2) the selection of a consultant or contractor or the prequalification of any individual consultant or contractor;

(3) the selection of a route for a specific project;

(4) the specific location of a transportation facility;

(5) the acquisition of rights of way or other properties necessary for a specific project or program; and

(6) the granting, denial, suspension, or revocation of any permit issued by the department.

(G) A member of the commission may not have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, franchise, privilege, or other benefit granted or awarded by the department during the member's term of appointment and for one year after the termination of the appointment.

HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1504; 2007 Act No. 114, Section 5, eff June 27, 2007; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), Section 1, eff July 1, 2016; 2017 Act No. 40 (H.3516), Section 23, eff July 1, 2017.

Effect of Amendment

2017 Act No. 40, Section 23, added (E) to (G), relating to the requirement of a minimum of six regular meetings annually, prohibiting a member from being involved in the day-to-day operations of the department and from having an interest in a grant or award of the department.