11-50-102. Dry bean commission established; composition; appointment; term; removal; vacancies; reimbursement for expenses.

(a) There is created the Wyoming bean commission. For administrative purposes the commission shall be within the department of agriculture. The commission shall be composed of six (6) members initially appointed by the governor. The director or his designated representative shall serve ex officio without vote. The appointed commission members shall consist of four (4) growers residing in Wyoming with at least one (1) of the members residing in Laramie, Platte or Goshen County, Wyoming. Two (2) members shall be handlers with dry bean processing facilities located in Wyoming. The governor may remove any member he appoints as provided in W.S. 9-1-202.

(b) The terms of office for the initial appointments to the commission shall be two (2) terms of four (4) years and two (2) terms of two (2) years for the grower members. The initial terms of office for the handler members shall be one (1) term of four (4) years and one (1) term of two (2) years. Upon the expiration of each of these terms, the commission shall conduct by mail an election to fill the open membership. After initial terms, elected members shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Only growers and handlers who paid dry bean assessments in the previous two (2) calendar years shall be eligible to vote in or stand for election, which shall be conducted in March of each odd-numbered year. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint a person for the unexpired term.

(c) The governor shall declare the office of any appointed or elected member of the commission vacant when he finds that the member:

(i) Is no longer a grower or handler;

(ii) Is unable to perform his duties; or

(iii) Has become a resident of another state.

(d) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall receive mileage and per diem as provided by law for state employees.