Section 1517.03. Ohio natural areas council

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio natural areas council to advise the director of natural resources or the director's designee on the administration of nature preserves and the preservation of natural areas.

(B) The council shall

be composed of the following members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate:

(1) One member representing natural history museums;

(2) One member representing metropolitan park districts;

(3) One member representing colleges and universities;

(4) One member representing outdoor education programs in primary and secondary education;

(5) One member representing nature centers;

(6) Two members representing the public.

Each appointed member shall be active or interested in natural area preservation. Not more than four of the appointed members shall belong to the same political party.

The director or the director's designee shall be a nonvoting ex officio member of the council.

(C) Not later than thirty days after the effective date of this amendment, the governor shall make appointments to the council. Of the initial appointments, two shall be for terms ending on the first Monday in February 2012, two shall be for terms ending on the first Monday in February 2013, two shall be for terms ending on the first Monday in February 2014, and one shall be for a term ending on the first Monday in February 2015. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for four years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. A member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(D) The council annually shall select from among its members a chairperson and a secretary. The department of natural resources shall furnish clerical, technical, legal, and other services required by the council in the performance of its duties.

Members of the council shall receive no compensation and shall not be reimbursed for expenses incurred as members of the council.

(E) The council shall hold at least one regular meeting every three months. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson and shall be called by the chairperson upon written request by two or more members of the council. A written notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be sent to each member and to the director. A majority of the members of the council constitutes a quorum. The council shall keep a record of its proceedings at each meeting and shall send a copy of the record to the director. The record shall be open to the public for inspection.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Added by 128th General AssemblyFile No.47, SB 181, §1, eff. 9/13/2010.