§556.3. Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board

            A. The Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board is hereby created within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The board shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge.

            B. The board shall consist of thirteen members appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and forestry in accordance with the following provisions:

            (1) One member who is engaged in crawfish farming east of the Atchafalaya River appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association.

            (2) One member who is engaged in crawfish farming west of the Atchafalaya River and south of U.S. Highway 190 appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association.

            (3) One member who is engaged in crawfish farming north of U.S. Highway 190 appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association. However, if no member north of U.S. Highway 190 is available, the commissioner shall appoint the member from the state-at-large.

            (4) Three members engaged in harvesting wild crawfish.

            (5) Three members who are engaged in crawfish farming or crawfish harvesting appointed from a list of six persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

            (6) One member who is engaged in the crawfish industry appointed from a list of three persons nominated by an owner or operator of a facility which produces or sells artificial crawfish bait.

            (7) One member who is an owner or operator of a facility which processes crawfish.

            (8) One member appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

            (9) One member appointed who owns or operates a retail crawfish-seafood facility, appointed from the state at large.

            (10) Repealed by Acts 2016, No. 219, §2.

            C. Members shall be appointed for terms concurrent with the term of the commissioner of agriculture and forestry. Each appointment by the commissioner shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

            D. Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 219, §2.

            E. A vacancy in the office of a member shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If any board or association nominating potential members becomes defunct or does not submit the required list of names to the commissioner within thirty days after he requests such list, the commissioner may appoint any otherwise qualified person not already a board member to fill a vacancy. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve out the unexpired portion of the term of office vacated.

            F. A majority of the appointed members who serve on the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All official actions of the board shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board present and voting.

            G. Members of the board shall not receive any salary for their duties as members. Members may receive a per diem for each day spent in actual attendance of meetings of the board. The amount of the per diem shall be fixed in an amount not to exceed forty dollars. Members may receive a mileage allowance for mileage traveled in attending meetings. The mileage allowance shall be fixed by the board in an amount not to exceed the mileage rate for state employees.

            H. The board shall meet at least twice per calendar year and may meet at other times on the call of the chairman or by request of any four members. The board shall not receive per diem or mileage for more than twelve meetings in any calendar year.

            I. The board, by a vote of a majority of the members, may expel a member for good cause shown. Good cause shall include but shall not be limited to three consecutive unexcused absences. The expulsion of a member creates a vacancy in the office of the expelled member.

            Acts 1983, No. 679, §1; Acts 1985, No. 865, §1; Acts 1985, No. 328, §1; Acts 1985, No. 327, §1; Acts 1990, No. 128, §1; Acts 1995, No. 543, §1; Acts 2004, No. 12, §1, eff. May 12, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 495, §1, eff. June 24, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 219, §2; Acts 2016, No. 219, §§1, 2; Acts 2024, No. 571, §1.