9-12-103. Wyoming business council; creation; composition; compensation; termination; meetings; surety bonds; fiscal control.

(a) There is created the Wyoming business council. The council is a body corporate operating as a state instrumentality operated solely for the public benefit. As such it shall have, and is hereby vested with, the powers and duties conferred in this chapter. It shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of fifteen (15) voting directors, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor shall be a member and cochairman of the board, but shall not vote. The appointed directors shall have demonstrated leadership and business expertise. An equal number of directors shall be appointed to initial terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years. Thereafter, directors shall serve for terms of three (3) years. No appointed director shall serve more than two (2) successive three (3) year terms. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a successor in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101. The governor may remove any board member he appoints for cause and shall remove any director who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the council. No appointed council member shall send a designee to attend a council meeting nor vote by proxy. The board shall select one (1) of its members to act as cochairman of the board. The board shall retain a chief executive officer. The chief executive officer serves at the pleasure of the board. All of the appointed directors shall be appointed at large and at least twelve (12) of the appointed directors shall be residents of Wyoming.

(b) The appointed directors shall receive per diem for attending board meetings in the same amount as state legislators and shall receive no other compensation for serving on the board. The board shall fix the salary of the chief executive officer. Subject to the approval of the directors, the chief executive officer shall determine the terms of employment, tenure, duties, working conditions, promotion and termination of all other employees which the chief executive officer determines are necessary to carry out the purposes and functions of the council. Employees of the council shall be covered by the Wyoming Retirement Act, the State Employees and Officials Group Insurance Act and the Wyoming Deferred Compensation Act.

(c) Upon termination of the council, all its rights and properties shall pass to and be vested in the state.

(d) The council shall determine the date, time, place and method of notice for all regular meetings of the council. A majority of the voting directors of the council constitutes a quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power or function of the council. Matters shall be decided by a majority vote of the voting members of the council. As unanimously determined by the council members, the council may take action by conference telephone or similar communications equipment whereby all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.

(e) The council may execute and maintain at its expense a blanket surety bond covering each director, the chief executive officer and the employees or other officers of the council in the penal sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).

(f) The council may also form committees and advisory councils, which may include representatives who are not members of the board, to undertake more extensive study and discussion of the issues before the board. The council shall form an advisory council for broadband development and designate a broadband coordinator in accordance with W.S. 9-12-1509.

(g) Except as specifically provided in this act, the following provisions do not apply to the council:

(i) W.S. 9-2-1001 through 9-2-1026;

(ii) W.S. 9-3-101 through 9-3-105;

(iii) The Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act.

(h) Except as specifically provided in this act, the provisions of W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205 and 16-4-401 through 16-4-408 shall apply to the council.