(a) The Delta Stewardship Council is hereby established as an independent agency of the state.

(b) The council shall consist of seven voting members, of which four members shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, one member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one member shall be the Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission. Initial appointments to the council shall be made by July 1, 2010.

(c) (1) (A) The initial terms of two of the four members appointed by the Governor shall be four years.

(B) The initial terms of two of the four members appointed by the Governor shall be six years.

(C) The initial terms of the members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly shall be four years.

(D) Upon the expiration of each term described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), the term of each succeeding member shall be four years.

(2) The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission shall serve as a member of the council for the period during which he or she holds the position as commission chairperson.

(d) Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority within 60 days. If the term of a council member expires, and no successor is appointed within the allotted timeframe, the existing member may serve up to 180 days beyond the expiration of his or her term.

(e) The council members shall select a chairperson from among the members, who shall serve for not more than four years in that capacity.

(f) The council shall meet once a month in a public forum. At least two meetings each year shall take place at a location within the Delta.

(g) This section becomes operative on January 1, 2019.

(Repealed (in Sec. 97) and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 26, Sec. 98. (SB 92) Effective June 27, 2017. Section operative January 1, 2019, by its own provisions.)