SEC. 49-19-1. State forestry commission; membership; compensation; organization.
(1) There shall be a state forestry commission composed of nine (9) members, who shall be qualified electors of the state. Eight (8) of the commission members shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, for a term of six (6) years. The dean of the school of forest resources at Mississippi State University shall be an ex officio member of the commission, with full voting authority. One (1) member of the commission shall be appointed from each congressional district as constituted on January 1, 1980. Such appointees shall be persons who are certified tree farmers who own eighty (80) or more acres of forest land or derive a major portion of their personal income from forest-related business, industry or other related activities. Three (3) members of the commission shall be appointed from the state at large. Such appointees may or may not possess the same qualifications as members appointed from the congressional districts.
The initial terms of the commission members shall be as follows: Two (2) shall be appointed for terms of one (1) year; two (2) shall be appointed for terms of two (2) years; one (1) shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years; one (1) shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years; one (1) shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years; and one (1) shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years. Thereafter, all terms of the appointed members of the commission shall be for six (6) years. The terms of members shall begin and end on July 1, of the appropriate year, regardless of the date of appointment. From and after July 1, 1981, the commission shall be reconstituted as hereinabove provided; provided, however, that as a part of the initial appointments, the governor shall reappoint the present members of the state forestry commission to the reconstituted commission to serve for periods of time no shorter than the remainder of their present terms.
(2) The members of the commission shall receive no annual salary but each member of the commission shall receive a per diem plus expenses and mileage as authorized by law for each day devoted to the discharge of their official duties. Provided, however, no member of the commission shall receive total per diem in excess of twenty-four (24) days' compensation per annum.
(3) In the event a vacancy occurs on the commission, any person appointed to fill an unexpired term shall hold office only for and during the unexpired term of the member he succeeds.
(4) The commission shall elect from its membership a chairman, who shall preside over meetings, and a vice chairman, who shall preside in the absence of the chairman or when the chairman shall be excused.
(5) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations governing times and places for meetings, and governing the manner of conducting its business. Each member of the commission shall take the oath prescribed by Section 268 of the Constitution and shall enter into bond in the amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) to be approved by the secretary of state, conditioned according to law and payable to the state of Mississippi before assuming the duties of office.
(6) Any appointment made to the commission contrary to the provisions of this section shall be null and void, and it shall be unlawful for the state auditor to pay any per diem or authorize the expenses of such appointee.
SOURCES: Codes, 1930, Sec. 6164; 1942, Sec. 6022; Laws, 1926, ch. 161; 1964, ch. 241, Secs. 1, 2; 1966, ch. 276, Sec. 1; 1973, ch. 359, Sec. 1; 1980, ch. 560, Sec. 24; Laws, 1981, ch. 305, Sec. 1, eff from and after July 1, 1981.
1997 Amendment
SECTION 1. Section 49-19-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-19-1. (1) There shall be a State Forestry Commission composed of nine (9) members, who shall be qualified electors of the state. The Dean of the School of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University shall be an ex officio member of the commission, with full voting authority. The Governor shall appoint eight (8) * * * members * * *, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of six (6) years. The Governor shall appoint one (1) member * * * from each congressional district as constituted at the time the appointments are made and shall appoint the remainder of the members from the state at large. A member from a congressional district must be a certified tree farmer who owns eighty (80) or more acres of forest land or a person who derives a major portion of his personal income from forest-related business, industry or other related activities. * * * Members of the commission * * * from the state at large * * * may or may not possess the same qualifications as members appointed from the congressional districts.
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(2) The members of the commission shall receive no annual salary but each member of the commission shall receive a per diem plus expenses and mileage as authorized by law for each day devoted to the discharge of * * * official duties. * * * No member of the commission shall receive total per diem in excess of twenty-four (24) days' compensation per annum.
(3) If a vacancy occurs in the office of an appointed member of the commission, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment for the balance of * * * the unexpired term * * *.
(4) The commission shall elect from its membership a chairman, who shall preside over meetings, and a vice-chairman, who shall preside in the absence of the chairman or when the chairman is excused.
(5) The commission shall adopt rules and regulations governing times and places for meetings, and governing the manner of conducting its business. Each member of the commission shall take the oath prescribed by Section 268 of the Constitution and shall enter into bond in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to be approved by the Secretary of State, conditioned according to law and payable to the State of Mississippi before assuming the duties of office.
(6) Any appointment made to the commission contrary to * * * this section shall be * * * void, and it is unlawful for the State Fiscal Officer to pay any per diem or authorize the expenses of the appointee.
SOURCE: 1997 Laws, Chapter 597, Sec. 1, SB2544, Effective July 1, 1997.