(A) There is hereby created the clean Ohio council consisting of the director of development or the director's designee, the director of environmental protection or the director's designee, the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant governor's designee, the director of the Ohio public works commission as a nonvoting, ex officio member, one member of the majority party of the senate and one member of the minority party of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate, one member of the majority party of the house of representatives and one member of the minority party of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and seven members to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Of the members appointed by the governor, one shall represent the interests of counties, one shall represent the interests of townships, one shall represent the interests of municipal corporations, two shall represent the interests of business and development, and two shall represent statewide environmental advocacy organizations. The members appointed by the governor shall reflect the demographic and economic diversity of the population of the state. Additionally, the governor's appointments shall represent all areas of the state. All appointments to the council shall be made not later than one hundred twenty days after July 26, 2001.

(B) The members appointed by the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. Of the initial members appointed by the governor to the clean Ohio council, four shall be appointed for two years and three shall be appointed for one year. Thereafter, terms of office for members appointed by the governor shall be for two years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each of those members shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member is appointed.

Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office after the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The governor may remove a member appointed by the governor for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office.

(C) The governor shall appoint a member of the clean Ohio council to serve as the chairperson of the council. The director of development shall serve as the vice-chairperson of the council unless appointed chairperson. If the director is appointed chairperson, the council annually shall select from among its members a vice-chairperson to serve while the director is chairperson. The council annually shall select from among its members a secretary to keep a record of its proceedings. A majority vote of a quorum of the members of the council is necessary to take action on any matter. The council may adopt bylaws governing its operation, including bylaws that establish the frequency of meetings, procedures for reviewing eligible projects under sections 122.65 to 122.658 of the Revised Code and policies and requirements established under section 122.657 of the Revised Code, and other necessary procedures.

(D) Members of the clean Ohio council shall be deemed to be public officials or officers only for the purposes of section 9.86 and Chapters 102. and 2921. of the Revised Code. Serving as a member of the clean Ohio council does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment so as to constitute grounds for removal of public officers or employees serving as members of the council from their offices or positions of employment. Members of the council shall file with the Ohio ethics commission the disclosure statement described in division (A) of section 102.02 of the Revised Code on the form prescribed by the commission and be subject to divisions (C) and (D) of that section. Members of the council shall serve without compensation for attending council meetings, but shall receive their actual and necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties in accordance with the rules of the office of budget and management.

(E) Members appointed by the governor to represent the interests of counties, townships, and municipal corporations do not have a conflict of interest by virtue of their service in the position. For the purposes of this division, "conflict of interest" means the taking of any action as a member of the council that affects a public agency the person serves as an officer or employee.

(F) The department of development shall provide office space for the council. The council shall be assisted in its duties by the staff of the department of development and the environmental protection agency.

(G) Sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code do not apply to the clean Ohio council.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003.