(a) The Technical Advisory Panel shall be comprised of individuals appointed by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.

(b) (1) Panelists shall have background experience, or general knowledge, in the area of groundwater resources.

(2) Panelists shall include all of the following:

(A) At least three individuals who currently serve on the board of directors of a local public agency that has adopted a groundwater management plan.

(B) A licensed civil engineer.

(C) A licensed geologist.

(D) A licensed hydrogeologist.

(E) At least one individual representing each of the hydrologic study areas shown in Figure 3 of the department’s Bulletin 118-80, entitled “Ground Water Basins in California: A Report to the Legislature in Response to Water Code Section 12924.”

(c) The number of individuals serving on the Technical Advisory Panel shall be determined by the Secretary of the Resources Agency.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 708, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.)