Sec. 4. (a) The commission consists of fifteen (15) voting members and two (2) nonvoting members. The voting members of the commission consist of the following:

(1) Six (6) Native American Indians, each from a different geographic region of Indiana.

(2) Two (2) Native American Indians who have knowledge in Native American traditions and spiritual issues.

(3) The commissioner of the department of correction or the commissioner's designee.

(4) The commissioner of the commission for higher education or the commissioner's designee.

(5) The commissioner of the state department of health or the commissioner's designee.

(6) The secretary of family and social services or the secretary's designee.

(7) The director of the department of natural resources or the director's designee.

(8) The state superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee.

(9) The commissioner of the department of workforce development or the commissioner's designee.

(b) The nonvoting members of the commission consist of the following:

(1) One (1) member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(2) One (1) member of the senate appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate.

(c) The governor shall appoint each Native American Indian member of the commission to a term of four (4) years, and any vacancy occurring shall be filled by the governor for the unexpired term. Before appointing a Native American Indian member to the commission, the governor shall solicit nominees from Indiana associations that represent Native American Indians in the geographic region from which the member will be selected. Not more than one (1) member may represent the same tribe or Native American Indian organization or association.

(d) A member of the commission may be removed by the member's appointing authority.

As added by P.L.133-2012, SEC.30.