15 CAR Part 50 — Bylaws of the Arkansas Forestry Commission

Chapter III

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

15 CAR § 50-101 Intent {#sec-15-car-50-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-50--15 CAR § 50-101}

15 CAR § 50-101. Intent.

(a) These bylaws supplement the Arkansas Forestry Commission's rules dated October 1, 1992, its enabling legislation, codified at Arkansas Code § 15-31-101 et seq., and other pertinent statutes.

(b) The bylaws govern the conduct of the business of the commission and shall be interpreted to establish orderly, equitable, and efficient procedures.

15 CAR § 50-102 Membership and structure {#sec-15-car-50-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-50--15 CAR § 50-102}

15 CAR § 50-102. Membership and structure.

(a) Members and terms.

(1) Arkansas Code § 15-31-102 provides that the Arkansas Forestry Commission shall have nine (9) members appointed by the Governor.

(2) Members serve nine-year terms.

(b) Officers.

(1) Chair.

(A) At the final regular meeting of 1997 and every second year thereafter, members of the commission shall elect a chair to serve during the next two (2) calendar years.

(B) A member shall serve as chair for no more than four (4) years during a nine-year term.

(C) The chair shall determine the agenda for all meetings of the commission, except the chair shall place items on the agenda at the request of five (5) or more members.

(D) The chair shall preside at all meetings of the commission.

(E) The chair shall appoint members to the standing committees and may establish ad-hoc committees.

(F) The chair shall authenticate by his or her signature all the approved acts, orders, and minutes of the commission.

(G) The chair may represent the commission.

(2) Vice chair.

(A) At the final regular meeting of 1997 and every second year thereafter, members of the commission shall elect a vice chair to serve during the next two (2) calendar years.

(B) A member shall serve as vice chair for no more than four (4) years during a nine-year term.

(C) The vice chair shall become the acting chair and temporarily shall assume the powers and duties of the chair in the event of the absence or disability of the chair.

(D) The acting chair shall revert to the vice chair and the chair shall resume the powers and duties of the office when the chair is able.

(E)(i)(a) If the chair is unable to fulfill the duties of the office for the remainder of a term, the vice chair shall become chair for the remainder of the term.

(b) This service shall not count toward the four-year term limit established at subdivision (b)(1)(B) of this section.

(ii)(a) At the next regular meeting after the vice chair ascends to the chair, the members shall elect a new vice chair to complete the term.

(b) This service shall not count toward the four-year term limit established at subdivision (b)(2)(B) of this section.

(3) Secretary.

(A) As provided in Arkansas Code § 15-31-104, the State Forester shall be, ex officio, secretary of the commission but shall have no vote on matters coming before it.

(B)(i) As authorized by Arkansas Code § 15-31-104(2), the commission delegates to the State Forester the powers and duties vested in it by its enabling legislation.

(ii) The State Forester's decisions made under this delegated authority are subject to review by the commission.

(iii) The commission retains its authority to determine agency policy.

15 CAR § 50-103 Committees {#sec-15-car-50-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-50--15 CAR § 50-103}

15 CAR § 50-103. Committees.

(a) General.

(1)(A) Committees shall review issues and recommend action to be taken by the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

(B) Committees are not empowered to act on behalf of the commission absent specific authorization.

(2) A committee shall meet as needed and as called by the committee chair.

(3) The committee chair shall:

(A) Determine the agendas for committee meetings;

(B) Preside at committee meetings; and

(C) Report committee recommendations to the commission.

(4) The committee chair shall authenticate by his or her signature all the approved acts, orders, and minutes of the committees.

(b) Standing committees.

(1) Executive Committee.

(A) The chair and vice chair of the commission and the chairs of the Personnel and Finance Committees shall comprise the membership of the Executive Committee.

(B) The chair of the commission shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee.

(C) The Executive Committee shall review proposed legislation and shall consider other matters not directly related to agency personnel and finances, all as determined by the chair of the commission.

(2) Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee shall consider issues and agency policies regarding personnel matters.

(3) Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall review budgets proposed by the staff and may consider other matters concerning the finances of the agency.

(c) Ad-hoc committees.

(1) The chair of the commission may appoint ad-hoc committees to review specific matters and make recommendations to the commission.

(2) Ad-hoc committees disband upon completion of the assigned tasks.

15 CAR § 50-104 Meetings of the Arkansas Forestry Commission {#sec-15-car-50-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-50--15 CAR § 50-104}

15 CAR § 50-104. Meetings of the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

(a) Quorum. Arkansas Code § 15-31-103(e) provides that a quorum shall consist of not less than five (5) members present at any regular or special meeting.

(b) Regular meetings. Arkansas Code § 15-31-103(d) provides that the Arkansas Forestry Commission shall meet quarterly.

(c) Special meetings.

(1) Arkansas Code § 15-31-103(d) provides that the chair may call special meetings.

(2) Upon request of five (5) or more members, the chair shall call a special meeting.

(d) Procedures.

(1) In presiding at meetings, the chair shall employ reasonable and efficient procedures.

(2) The chair shall resolve procedural issues by following Robert's Rules of Order.

(e) Voting.

(1) Except the chair, each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote on each matter coming before the commission.

(2) The chair may vote whenever the chair’s vote will affect the result.

15 CAR § 50-105 Severance and amendment {#sec-15-car-50-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-15-part-50--15 CAR § 50-105}

15 CAR § 50-105. Severance and amendment.

(a) Severance.

(1) The provisions of these bylaws are severable.

(2) Any provision determined to be contrary to law shall be void and the remaining provisions will not be affected.

(b) Amendment. The Arkansas Forestry Commission may amend these bylaws by majority vote of a quorum at any regular or special meeting.