(1) There is hereby established an advisory committee to the commission for the purpose of suggesting solutions for the problems and needs of higher education and maintaining liaison with the general assembly and the governing boards for state-supported institutions of higher education. The advisory committee shall consist of not less than thirteen members, to be designated as follows:

(a)

(I) Six members shall be appointed from the general assembly, including three senators, two of whom shall be from the majority party, appointed by the president of the senate, and one of whom shall be from the minority party, appointed by the senate minority leader, and three representatives, two of whom shall be from the majority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one of whom shall be from the minority party, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (a), the six members shall be appointed for terms of two years.

(II) The terms of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and who are serving on March 22, 2007, shall be extended to and expire on or shall terminate on the convening date of the first regular session of the sixty-seventh general assembly. As soon as practicable after such convening date, the speaker and the president shall each appoint or reappoint successors in the same manner as provided in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a). Thereafter, the terms of members appointed or reappointed by the speaker and the president shall expire on the convening date of the first regular session of each general assembly, and all subsequent appointments and reappointments by the speaker and the president shall be made as soon as practicable after such convening date. The person making the original appointment or reappointment shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term. Members appointed or reappointed by the speaker and the president shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall continue in office until the member's successor is appointed.

(b) One member shall be selected and designated by the commission to represent the faculty in the state and one member shall be selected and designated by the commission to represent the students in the state. On and after August 5, 2009, the commission shall select and designate one member who, at the time of designation, is a parent of a student who is enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education in Colorado to represent the parents of students.

(c) Not more than four additional members representing educational or other groups may be selected and designated by the commission to serve on the advisory committee.

(2) Legislative members of the advisory committee shall receive compensation and reimbursement of expenses as provided in section 2-2-326, C.R.S. Members of the advisory committee not otherwise compensated by the state or a public educational institution shall receive thirty dollars per diem for attendance at official meetings plus reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the conduct of official business.

(3) All members of the advisory committee shall receive agendas and background material and be notified of all public meetings of the commission and shall be invited to attend for the purpose of suggesting solutions for the problems and needs of higher education and maintaining liaison with the general assembly.

(4) In addition to any attendance at commission meetings, the committee shall meet as often as necessary to provide assistance to the commission.

(5) Repealed.