30-2-301. Board of mines renamed mining council; created; composition; qualifications, appointment and term of members; removal; officers; rules; quorum; vacancies; compensation.

(a) There is created a state board of mines which is renamed the state mining council within the department of workforce services which shall consist of eleven (11) members. Ten (10) members shall be appointed equally from among the management and hourly employees of the mining industry, including surface and underground coal mining, and shall serve for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified except for the inspector who is a member of the council and entitled to vote in case of a tie. Each member of the council, except the inspector, shall be a qualified elector of the state and shall have at least five (5) years experience in the mining industry immediately preceding his appointment. The members shall be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate and from among the management and employees of the mining industry. The tenure of the members of the council shall be so arranged that the terms of not more than five (5) of the members shall expire in any one (1) year period. The governor may remove any council member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. The council shall have among its appointed members:

(i) An underground coal or gassy mine management official;

(ii) A practical underground coal or gassy mine member; and

(iii) A mining engineer.

(b) The officers of the council are a president and a vice-president, elected by the council from among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the council. The council has the power and duty to formulate and adopt rules consistent with the provisions of law to govern its own operation and functions. A majority of the combined council represents a quorum necessary to transact council business.

(c) Appointments, terms and the filling of vacancies shall be in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103.

(d) Members of the council shall receive compensation, per diem and travel expenses in the same manner and amount as the state legislature while going to, attending or returning from council meetings or official committee meetings. An official committee shall be any committee of two (2) or more council members created by a majority vote of a quorum of the council.