11-6-303. Animal damage management board (ADMB) created; composition; appointment; terms; vacancies; compensation.

(a) There is created the animal damage management board for the purposes of mitigating damage caused to livestock, wildlife and crops by predatory animals, predacious birds and depredating animals or for the protection of human health and safety. The board may mitigate damage caused by depredating animals by and through a memorandum of understanding with the Wyoming game and fish commission. The board shall be composed of twelve (12) members appointed by the governor as follows:

(i) The director of the Wyoming department of agriculture;

(ii) The director of the Wyoming game and fish department;

(iii) One (1) domestic sheep producer;

(iv) One (1) cattle producer;

(v) The state director for the United States department of agriculture, animal and plant health inspection service, wildlife services (USDA/APHIS/WS);

(vi) Two (2) members representing the interests of sportsmen, outfitters and hunters, not more than one (1) of these members shall be appointed to represent the interests of outfitters;

(vii) The president of the state predator management advisory board created under W.S. 11-6-201;

(viii) One (1) member from an urban area;

(ix) One (1) member from the Wyoming game and fish commission;

(x) One (1) member of the Wyoming board of agriculture; and

(xi) One (1) member representing the interests of nonconsumptive users of the state's wildlife resource.

(b) A representative from the United States forest service (USFS), the United States fish and wildlife service (USFWS) and United States bureau of land management (BLM) shall serve as exofficio nonvoting members of the board.

(c) The directors of the departments of agriculture and game and fish shall serve as co-chairs of the ADMB and shall give general direction to the ADMB and the ADMB administrative officer.

(d) The director of the department of agriculture or his designee shall serve as the ADMB s administrative officer and carry out the ADMB s administrative functions.

(e) Except for the directors of the departments of agriculture and game and fish, the state director for the United States department of agriculture, animal and plant health inspection service, wildlife services (USDA/APHIS/WS), and the president of the state predator management advisory board created under W.S. 11-6-201, the remaining members of the board shall hold office for staggered terms of four (4) years. For the remaining members of the initial board, four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years, four (4) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years. Each appointed member shall be limited to serving on the board for eight (8) consecutive years, however, a member may be reappointed after a four (4) year absence. Each member shall hold office until his successor is appointed and has been qualified. As terms of current ADMB members expire, the governor shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a four (4) year term.

(f) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, a replacement shall be appointed for the unexpired term.

(g) Attendance of six (6) members at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business. The ADMB shall convene at the times and places prescribed by the chair.

(h) Members of the board who are not government employees shall receive no compensation or benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the established state rate, to be paid from the animal damage management account.

(j) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.

(k) State government officer and employee members who do not receive salary, per diem, or expenses from their agency for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties from the ADMB at the established state rate, to be paid from the animal damage management account.

(m) State government official and employee members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service.