§3543.  Louisiana Rice Research Board; creation and organization

A. The Louisiana Rice Research Board is hereby created with its domicile in Crowley, Louisiana.

B.  The board shall be composed of fifteen members appointed by the governor.  Each member shall be a rice producer and be subject to Senate confirmation, except the commissioner or his designee.  Members shall serve for four-year terms which shall begin on the fifteenth day of August in 2014 and each four years thereafter.  The board shall consist of the following members:

(1)  Six members appointed from a list of ten persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.

(2)  Five members appointed from a list of eight persons nominated by the Louisiana Rice Growers Association.

(3)  Two members appointed from a list of four persons nominated by the American Rice Growers Cooperative Association.

(4)  One member appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Independent Rice Growers Association.

(5)  The commissioner of agriculture or his designee.

C.  Not less than thirty days prior to August 15, 2014, and every four years thereafter, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., the Louisiana Rice Growers Association, the American Rice Growers Cooperative Association, and the Louisiana Independent Rice Producers Association each shall submit the names of their nominees, all of whom shall be rice producers, to the governor who shall appoint the required number of board members from each set of nominees.  In the event that the governor fails to appoint the members of the board in accordance with this Section, the current members shall continue to serve until their replacements are appointed.  Board members shall be eligible to succeed themselves on the board if they meet the prescribed qualifications and are reappointed by the governor.

D.  The members of the board shall meet and organize immediately after their appointment and shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary-treasurer from the membership of the board, whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by such officers or specifically designated by the board.  The board may establish rules and regulations for its own government and the administration of the affairs of the board and shall have the following duties, functions, and authorizations in addition to and in conjunction with the aforenamed:

(1)  To make recommendations and to advise the commissioner concerning rules and regulations relating to the administration of the collection of the assessments.

(2)  To receive the funds from the state treasury in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

(3)  To expend funds collected for rice research and to enter into contracts with rice research organizations and agencies relating to the production, handling, marketing, or utilization of rice for the purposes of research.

(4)  To keep minutes, books, and records which will clearly reflect all of its meetings, acts, and transactions.  The minutes, books, and records shall at all times be subject to examination by any rice producer on whom an assessment has been collected.

(5)  To publicize the actions of the board in the news media serving the rice areas of Louisiana.

E.  Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 345, §2.

Added by Acts 1972, No. 105, §1; Amended by Acts 1977, No. 118, §1; Acts 1986, No. 927, §1; Acts 1988, No. 586, §1; Acts 2009, No. 24, §8I, eff. June 12, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 861, §3; Acts 2014, No. 345, §§1, 2.