08 SB515/AP
Senate
Bill 515
By:
Senator Bulloch of the 11th
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Chapter 4 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the Georgia Seed Development Commission, so as to change certain provisions
relating to the Georgia Seed Development Commission and its composition,
officers, bylaws, quorum, compensation, records, audits, and bonds; to change
certain provisions relating to the creation of an advisory board and its members
and functions; to change certain provisions relating to terms of office; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
4 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia
Seed Development Commission, is amended by revising Code Section 2-4-3, relating
to the Georgia Seed Development Commission and its composition, officers,
bylaws, quorum, compensation, records, audits, and bonds, as
follows:
"2-4-3.
(a)
The commission shall be composed of the following 11 members:
(1)
Two members to be appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall be a farmer who
grows crops or turf;
(2)
One member who shall be a farmer who grows crops or turf, to be appointed by the
Lieutenant Governor;
(3)
One member who shall be a farmer who grows crops or turf, to be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(4)
The Commissioner of Agriculture;
(5)
Two representatives of the seed or turf industries or farm related
organizations, one of whom shall be appointed by the Senate Agriculture and
Consumer Affairs Committee, and one of whom shall be appointed by the House
Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Each committee shall make its
appointment with a quorum present and a majority of those present
concurring;
(6)
One member who shall be a farmer who grows crops or turf, to be appointed by the
Commissioner of Agriculture;
(7)
The dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the
University of Georgia;
(8)
A seed breeder employed by the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences of the University of Georgia, to be appointed by the dean of the
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Georgia;
and
(9)
The associate dean for research of the College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences of the University of Georgia.
(b)
The members of the commission shall enter upon their duties without further act
or formality. The commission shall organize each even-numbered year at the
meeting next following July 1 of such year, at which time the commission shall
elect one of its members as chairperson and another as vice chairperson. It
shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer, who need not be members. The
offices of secretary and treasurer may be combined in one person. The
commission may make such bylaws for its government as it deems necessary but is
under no duty to do so.
(c)
Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum necessary for the
transaction of business, and a majority vote of those present at any meeting at
which there is a quorum shall be sufficient to do and perform any action
permitted the commission by this chapter. No vacancy on the commission shall
impair the right of a quorum to transact any and all business of the
commission.
(d)
The members shall not receive compensation for their services but shall be
reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.
(e)
Members of the commission shall be accountable as trustees. They shall cause
adequate books and records of all transactions of the commission, including
records of income and disbursements of every nature, to be kept. The books and
records shall be inspected and audited by the state auditor at least once in
each year. The commission may require that an employee, an officer, member of
the commission, or any person doing business with the commission post a bond, in
an amount to be determined by the commission, for the faithful performance of
the duties imposed upon such employee, officer, member of the commission, or
person doing business with the commission. The principal of such bond of an
officer, employee, or member of the commission shall be paid by the
commission."
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 2-4-7, relating to the
creation of an advisory board and its members and functions, as
follows:
"2-4-7.
The
commission may appoint an advisory board, consisting of such number and
qualifications of members as the commission may determine, to advise and consult
with the commission in the performance of the commission´s duties. The
function of such a board shall be advisory only."
SECTION
3.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 2-4-8, relating to terms of
office, as follows:
"2-4-8.
The
appointive members of the commission shall serve for terms of two years each
commencing on July 1 of each even-numbered year; and the appointive members of
the advisory board, if any, shall serve at the pleasure of the
commission."
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.