(a) (1) The Natural Resources Committee is created and shall be composed of the following members:

(A) The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration;

(B) The Director of Production and Conservation of the Oil and Gas Commission;

(C) The State Geologist;

(D) The State Forester;

(E) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission;

(F) The Commissioner of State Lands;

(G) The Executive Secretary of the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission;

(H) The Director of the Department of Parks and Tourism;

(I) The Director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality; and

(J) The Chair of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission.

(2) A member of the committee may designate a person within the member's organization to attend meetings and conduct committee business on the member's behalf.

(b) The chair of the committee shall be the Commissioner of State Lands.

(c) The committee shall establish a schedule of minimum fees and royalties, as well as the terms and conditions for various types of permits and leases. No permit or lease shall be granted for less than the minimums prescribed in the schedule.

(d) The committee shall have the authority to change the schedule of minimum fees and royalties and the terms of permits and leases.

(e) The Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission shall have the authority, for all lands held in the name of and managed by its agency:

(1) To establish a schedule of minimum fees and royalties, as well as the terms and conditions for various types of permits and leases for Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission lands;

(2) To take bids on and to award the leases and permits to produce or sever minerals from those lands and to set up application procedures and fees for those leases and permits;

(3) To set the length of time for leases or permits to expire and the terms and conditions for their transfer or renewal;

(4) To set the minimum fees and royalties for leases and permits and to ensure that severance taxes on minerals from such leases or permits are paid to the proper agencies; and

(5) Shall have such other duties, responsibilities, and authority required for the issuance of mineral leases and permits under this section and §§ 22-5-801 -- 22-5-803 and 22-5-805 -- 22-5-813 for other state lands.