R657-39-3. Regional Advisory Council Memberships -- Terms of Office

(1)(a) There are created five regional advisory councils which shall consist of at least 12 members and not more than 15 members each from the wildlife region whose boundaries are established for administrative purposes by the division.

(b) Regional advisory councils shall be established as follows:

(i) two members who represent agriculture;

(ii) two members who represent sportsman;

(iii) two members who represent nonconsumptive wildlife;

(iv) one member who represents locally elected public officials;

(v) one member who represents the U.S. Forest Service;

(vi) one member who represents the Bureau of Land Management;

(vii) one member who represents Native Americans where appropriate; and

(viii) two members of the public at large who represent the interests of the region.

(c) The executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, in consultation with the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources, shall appoint additional members to the councils, up to a total of 15 per region, if deemed necessary to provide adequate representation of local interests and needs.

(d) Members of the councils shall serve a term of four years, except members may be appointed for a term of two years to ensure that the terms of office are staggered.

(e) Members may serve no more than two terms, except:

(i) members representing Native Americans may serve unlimited terms;

(ii) members filling a vacancy under Subsection (3) for two years or less will not be credited with having served a term; and

(iii) members who have served two terms may be eligible to serve an additional two terms after four years absence from regional advisory council membership.

(f) Members' terms expire on July 1 of the final year in the appointed term.

(2) The executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, in consultation with the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources, may remove members of the councils from office for cause, but may not do so without a public hearing if requested by the member.

(3) If a vacancy occurs, the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, in consultation with the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources, shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term from a list of nominees submitted by the respective interest group, agency, or the public at large.

(4)(a) Each council shall appoint:

(i) a chair to conduct meetings and present council recommendations to the Wildlife Board; and

(ii) a vice chair to conduct meetings in the absence of the chair.

(b) The chair and vice chair shall serve for a two year term of office, the regional advisory council may re-appoint the chair and vice chair to serve a second two year term.

(i) neither the chair nor the vice chair may serve more than two term.

(5) Regional supervisors of the division shall serve as executive secretary to the councils and shall provide administrative support.

(6) Each new member shall attend an orientation course provided by the division to assist them in the performance of the duties of the their office.

(7) Any member who fails to attend two consecutive, previously scheduled meetings without contacting the chair shall be considered to have resigned and shall be replaced as provided in this section.