(a) There is hereby established the Kansas tourist attraction evaluation committee within the Kansas department of commerce. The committee shall consist of three members, all of whom shall have appropriate experience and expertise in the area of travel and tourism. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the secretary of commerce and shall serve at the secretary’s pleasure.

(b) The committee shall screen, evaluate and approve or disapprove all applications for matching grants by those entities described in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 32-1420, and amendments thereto, for the promotion of tourism and the development of tourist attractions in the state. The committee shall also provide technical advice upon request to any local tourist attraction upon ways to improve its operations.

(c) The director of tourism shall serve as a nonvoting chairperson of the committee and the committee shall annually elect a vice-chairperson from among its members. The committee shall meet upon call of the chairperson or upon call of any two of its members. Two voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(d) All members of the committee shall serve without compensation or any other allowances authorized under the provisions of article 32 of chapter 75 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.