(a)    (1)    There is an Advisory Committee to the Board in the Department of Natural Resources.

(2)    The Committee is established to review applications for Rural Legacy Areas, make recommendations for Rural Legacy Area designations to the Board, and consider such other matters as requested by the Board.

(b)    The Committee has 11 members as follows:

(1)    A trustee of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation;

(2)    A trustee of the Maryland Environmental Trust;

(3)    A representative of the agriculture industry;

(4)    A representative of a nonprofit land conservation organization;

(5)    A representative of a nonprofit environmental organization;

(6)    A representative of the forest industry;

(7)    A representative of a county government department of parks and recreation;

(8)    A representative of a business organization;

(9)    A private land owner;

(10)    A representative of the mineral resources industry; and

(11)    A representative of a municipal corporation.

(c)    (1)    Committee members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(2)    The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Committee on July 1, 1997.

(3)    The Governor shall solicit nominees from industries and groups which are represented on the Committee.

(4)    The members shall represent geographically and ethnically diverse areas.

(d)    (1)    The term of membership is 3 years.

(2)    A person may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

(e)    The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the Committee.

(f)    The Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Planning, shall provide staff support for the Committee.