A. The Louisiana Beef Industry Council is hereby created and shall be within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry as provided for agencies transferred to the department by La. Rev. Stat. 36:629(D).

            B.(1) The council shall be composed of nine cattle producer members appointed as follows:

            (a) Three cattle producer members appointed by the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association.

            (b) Two representatives of the Louisiana Livestock Auction Markets Association appointed by the board of directors of the Louisiana Livestock Auction Market Association.

            (c) Three cattle producer representatives of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation appointed by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

            (d) One cattle producer member appointed by the Cattle Producers of Louisiana.

            (2) In addition, the commissioner of agriculture shall serve as an ex officio member of the council in an advisory capacity only.

            (3)(a) Members shall serve as follows:

            (i) One member from the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association and one member from the Louisiana Farm Bureau shall each serve one-year terms.

            (ii) One member from the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, one member from the Louisiana Farm Bureau, and one member from the Louisiana Livestock Auction Markets Association shall each serve two-year terms.

            (iii) One member from the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, one member from the Louisiana Farm Bureau, one member from the Louisiana Livestock Auction Markets Association, and one member from the Cattle Producers of Louisiana shall each serve three-year terms.

            (b) Thereafter, all appointments shall be for three-year terms. No appointee shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms on the council. The initial appointments shall commence on August 17, 2015.

            C. Thereafter and not less than thirty days prior to the expiration of the term of office, except for those serving by virtue of their elective office, the aforenamed organizations and agencies shall submit the names of appointments to the council. Vacancies which occur shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments and for the unexpired term.

            D. The council shall meet and organize immediately after appointment of the members, and shall elect the chairman, vice chairman, and secretary-treasurer from the membership of the council, whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by such officers or specifically designated by the council. The officers shall serve a one-year term.

            E. Council members shall receive no salary for their services as members, but shall be reimbursed for actual travel and other expenses incurred in attendance at meetings of the council or while on official business of the council assigned by the council. The reimbursement shall be paid out of funds available to the council.

            Added by Acts 1978, No. 320, §1. HCR 187, 1987 R.S.; HCR 201, 1988 R.S; Acts 2009, No. 24, §8K, eff. June 12, 2009; Acts 2015, No. 428, §1; Acts 2021, No. 20, §1.