A.  There is hereby created the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Advisory Board.

B.1.  The members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed as follows:

a.   one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives which member shall be an agricultural lending officer from an Oklahoma-based lending institution,

b.   one member shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from a farm credit institution,

c.   one member shall be appointed by the State Treasurer which member shall have agricultural business experience,

d.   one member shall be appointed by the Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council who is an active co-op manager or chief executive officer, and

e.   three members shall be appointed by the Governor from lists submitted by each of the state’s three largest farm organizations and three largest commodity organizations.  Each of these members must be actively engaged in farming or ranching.

2.  The gubernatorial appointees shall serve terms of four (4) years.  The remaining appointees shall serve terms of three (3) years.

3.  The Secretary of Agriculture or designee, the Secretary of the Department of Commerce or designee, and the President of Oklahoma State University or designee, shall serve as ex officio members of the Advisory Board.

C. 1.  Members of the Advisory Board shall serve at the pleasure of and may be removed from office by the appointing authority.  Members shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed.  Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.  Six members shall constitute a quorum.

2.  The Advisory Board shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its members.  The Advisory Board shall meet as required to comply with its duties and responsibilities specified by the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Act and for such other purposes specified by law.  Special meetings may be called by the chair or by the concurrence of any five members.

3.  The Secretary of Agriculture shall call the first meeting of the Advisory Board.

D.  The duties of the Advisory Board shall be to:

1.  Ensure that all proposals that receive funds have the potential to directly benefit agricultural producers;

2.  Evaluate proposals and recommend to the State Department of Agriculture the funding level, and the allocation of funds for the proposal;

3.  Review interim and final reports, including but not limited to financial reports;

4.  Review and make recommendations to the Legislature on any changes needed in the Oklahoma Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program;

5.  Assist the Department in developing an annual report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the State Board of Agriculture;

6.  Make other written recommendations to the State Board of Agriculture which have been concurred upon by at least a majority of the membership of the Advisory Board; and

7.  Provide a public forum for the discussion of issues it considers relevant to its area of jurisdiction, and to:

a.   pass nonbinding resolutions expressing the intent of the Advisory Board, and

b.   make recommendations to the State Board of Agriculture or the Department concerning the need and the desirability of conducting meetings, workshops and seminars.

E.  Members of the Advisory Board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act.  The Advisory Board is authorized to utilize the conference rooms of the State Department of Agriculture and obtain administrative assistance from the Department, as required.

Historical Data

Added by Laws 1999, HB 1197, c. 157, § 5, eff. November 1, 1999.