35-7-127. Governor's food safety council.

(a) There is created the governor's food safety council. The governor shall appoint eleven (11) members of the council as follows:

(i) One (1) member who is an employee of the department of agriculture;

(ii) One (1) member who is an employee of the department of health;

(iii) One (1) member who is an employee of the laboratory of the department of agriculture or the department of health;

(iv) One (1) member from a local health department;

(v) One (1) ex officio nonvoting member who is an employee of the University of Wyoming cooperative extension service;

(vi) Four (4) members representing the food industry, at least one (1) member representing restaurants and one (1) member representing retail food stores; and

(vii) Two (2) members with no connections to the food industry representing the general public as consumer representatives.

(b) Members of the council shall hold office for staggered terms of three (3) years. For the initial council, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years and five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year. Each member shall hold office until his successor is appointed. The governor may remove any member pursuant to W.S. 9-1-202.

(c) No rule shall be promulgated by the department of agriculture or a local health department under this act until the department has consulted with the governor's food safety council and received comment from the council.

(d) The members of the council shall not receive compensation for their service, but shall receive reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided by W.S. 9-3-102 for state employees from the department of agriculture.

(e) The council shall meet not less than once each year.