(a) There is established a Forest Practices Advisory Board consisting of the State Forester or his designee, and nine public members, six of whom shall be appointed one each by the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of Representatives and three of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. The members appointed shall include a professional forester in private practice, a representative of the forest products industry, an officer of an environmental organization headquartered within the state which is concerned primarily with forests, a professor of forestry or natural resources from a college or university within the state, an owner of not less than ten nor more than two hundred fifty acres of forest land, a representative of an environmental organization not primarily concerned with forests and a member of an inland wetlands agency.

(b) The appointed members of the initial board shall be appointed so that the terms of two members shall expire on December 31, 1993, the terms of two members shall expire on December 31, 1994, the terms of two members shall expire on December 31, 1995, and the term of one member shall expire on December 31, 1996. Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a term of four years. Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Each member of the board shall serve until his successor is appointed.

(c) The State Forester or his designee shall serve as chairman of the board. The board shall meet at least three times, annually, at such time and place as shall be designated by the chairman, or upon the written request of a majority of the members of the board. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The principal office of the board shall be the State Forester's office.

(d) Members of the board shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(e) The Forest Practices Advisory Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To periodically review applicable regulations concerning forest practices or the certification of forest practitioners and to issue recommendations to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for changes to such regulations;

(2) To periodically review the programs and policies of the department regarding forests, forest health and forest practices and to issue recommendations to the commissioner for changes to such programs and policies; and

(3) To provide advice and guidance to the commissioner regarding the certification of technically proficient forest practitioners and the revocation or suspension of such certification.

(P.A. 86-257, S. 2, 6; P.A. 91-335, S. 2; P.A. 93-223; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 91-335 entirely replaced former provisions re logger registration board with provisions concerning forest practices advisory board; P.A. 93-223 added two gubernatorial appointments to the board and specified that one member represent an environmental organization not primarily concerned with forests and that one be a member of an inland wetlands agency; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (e)(1), effective July 1, 2011.