(a) The governing board of the conservancy shall consist of 16 voting members.

(b) The 16 voting members of the board shall consist of the following:

(1) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County may appoint an alternate member from that board.

(2) The Mayor of the City of Fresno or a member of the Fresno City Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Fresno. The Mayor of the City of Fresno may designate an alternate member from the Fresno City Council.

(3) One member of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County appointed by a majority of the members of that board. A majority of the members of the Board of Supervisors of Madera County may appoint an alternate from that board.

(4) The Mayor of the City of Madera or a member of the Madera City Council designated by the Mayor of the City of Madera. The Mayor of the City of Madera may designate an alternate member from the Madera City Council.

(5) (A) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District or the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Madera Irrigation District.

(B) The Chairpersons of the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District and the Madera Irrigation District shall rotate appointments, with each chairperson serving for one term before rotating to the other chairperson. Notwithstanding Section 32517, each chairperson shall serve two-year terms.

(C) Each chairperson may appoint a designee to the board.

(6) Three public members, one of whom shall be a resident of Fresno County, one of whom shall be a resident of Madera County, and one of whom shall be a resident of the City of Fresno. The members shall be appointed according to all of the following procedures:

(A) The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint the resident of Fresno County from a list of candidates that includes two or more individuals provided by the Board of Supervisors of Fresno County. The board of supervisors shall develop its list from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within that county and support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues. The board of supervisors shall have one year from the end of a term or the creation of a vacancy to submit the list to the Senate Committee on Rules. If the board of supervisors does not submit the list within that time, the Senate Committee on Rules may appoint a resident of Fresno County nominated by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within Fresno County and support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues.

(B) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint the resident of Madera County from a list of candidates that includes two or more individuals provided by the Board of Supervisors of Madera County. The board of supervisors shall develop its list from a list submitted by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within that county and support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues. The board of supervisors shall have one year from the end of a term or the creation of a vacancy to submit the list to the Speaker of the Assembly. If the board of supervisors does not submit the list within that time, the Speaker of the Assembly may appoint a resident of Madera County nominated by nonprofit organizations that have a presence within Madera County and support outdoor recreation, conservation, environmental justice, or social justice issues.

(C) The Governor shall appoint the resident of the City of Fresno from a list of candidates submitted by the Fresno City Council.

(7) One member of a California Native American tribe appointed by the Governor from a list of candidates submitted by local tribal organizations.

(8) (A) One youth member appointed by the Governor from lists submitted by either of the following:

(i) Youth-serving nonprofit organizations that have a presence within Fresno County or Madera County.

(ii) Institutions of higher education within Fresno County or Madera County.

(B) The youth member shall be a resident of Fresno County or Madera County and 18 to 26 years of age, inclusive, and shall not be an elected official.

(9) The Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board or a member of the executive director’s staff designated by the executive director.

(10) The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency or a member of the secretary’s staff designated by the secretary.

(11) The Director of Fish and Wildlife or a member of the director’s staff designated by the director.

(12) The Director of Parks and Recreation or a member of the director’s staff designated by the director.

(13) The Director of Finance or a member of the director’s staff designated by the director.

(14) The Executive Officer of the State Lands Commission or a member of the executive officer’s staff designated by the executive officer.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 171, Sec. 2. (AB 559) Effective January 1, 2022.)