There is in the state government the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the “commission.” The commission shall be composed of thirteen members as follows:

(a) Nine members of the public, appointed for terms of four years pursuant to this section. Not more than five of these members shall be registered as members of the same political party, and none shall hold public office in the executive branch of the state government.

Any public member who is absent for three consecutive regular meetings of the commission may be removed by the appointing authority unless the member is excused from those meetings by the chairperson of the commission. In the event of removal, or upon the resignation or death of the member, the respective appointing authority shall designate another person to fill the balance of the unexpired term.

(b) Five members shall be appointed by the Governor. However, the terms of these members shall be staggered so that the terms of three members shall commence on January 1, 1978, and the terms of two members shall commence on January 1, 1980. To achieve the staggering of terms, the Governor shall designate the terms of the present members of the commission who have been appointed by the Governor.

(c) Two members of the public shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. However, the terms of these members shall be staggered so that the term of one member commences on January 1, 1979, and the term of the other member commences January 1, 1981. To achieve the staggering of terms, the Senate Committee on Rules shall designate the terms of the present members of the commission who have been appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(d) Two members of the public shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. However, the terms of these members shall be staggered so that the term of one member commences January 1, 1979, and the term of the other member commences January 1, 1981. To achieve the staggering of terms, the Speaker of the Assembly shall designate the terms of the present members of the commission who have been appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(e) Two Members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. These members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority but shall not be registered with the same political party. If a member, while serving on the commission, registers with the same political party as the other member, the Senate Committee on Rules shall replace one of the members with a new member who is not registered with the same political party as the remaining member.

(f) Two Members of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. These members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority but shall not be registered with the same political party. If a member, while serving on the commission, registers with the same political party as the other member, the Speaker of the Assembly shall replace one of the members with a new member who is not registered with the same political party as the remaining member.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 682, Sec. 1. Effective October 10, 1995. Note: Section 8455 is in Chapter 5.4, which follows Section 8334.)