(1) There is created a ground water commission to consist of twelve members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

(2) The appointed members of the commission holding office as of July 1, 1971, shall continue in office for the term of their appointment and until their successors are appointed.

(3) (a) All appointments to the commission shall be for four-year terms, except those made to fill vacancies, which shall be for the remainder of the term vacated.

(b) Appointments made after July 1, 1971, as terms expire or are vacated, shall be made so that the commission includes six members who are resident agriculturists of designated groundwater basins, with no more than two resident agriculturists from the same groundwater basin to be members of the commission at the same time; one member who shall be a resident agriculturist and who shall be appointed from water division 3; and two residents of the state who shall represent municipal or industrial water users of the state, one of whom shall be appointed from the area west of the continental divide.

(4) In addition to the appointed members, the executive director of the department of natural resources shall be a voting member, and the state engineer, and the director of the Colorado water conservation board shall be nonvoting members of the commission. Six voting members shall constitute a quorum at any regularly or specially called meeting of the commission, and a majority vote of those present shall rule. The commission shall establish and maintain a schedule of at least four general meetings each year. The chairman, at his discretion, or two members may call special meetings of the commission to dispose of accumulated business.

(5) Members of the commission shall be paid no compensation but shall be paid actual necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members thereof and a per diem of fifty dollars per day while performing official duties, not to exceed two thousand four hundred dollars in any year.

(6) The commission shall biennially select a chair and vice-chair from among the appointed members. The state engineer shall be ex officio the executive director of the commission and shall carry out and enforce the decisions, orders, and policies of the commission. The commission may delegate to the executive director the authority to perform any of the functions of the commission as set forth in this article except the determination of a designated groundwater basin as set forth in section 37-90-106 and the creation of ground water management districts. If any person is dissatisfied with any action of the executive director under the exercise of the powers delegated by the commission, the person may appeal said action to the commission, which shall hear the person's appeals as specified in sections 37-90-113 and 37-90-114.

(7) The provisions of section 24-6-402 (3)(a)(II), C.R.S., concerning imminent court action, as applied to the ground water commission and to any member, employee, contractor, agent, servant, attorney, or consultant thereof, shall not include any actions within the scope of sections 37-90-106 to 37-90-109 and section 37-90-111.