Connecticut General Statutes Title 22. Agriculture. Domestic Animals § 22-26e. Governor's Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation

(a) There is hereby established a Governor's Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation within the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes only, consisting of the following members: (1) The Commissioner of Agriculture, who shall serve as the chairperson of the council, (2) the dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at The University of Connecticut, or the dean's designee, who shall serve as co-vice-chairperson, (3) the executive director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau, or the executive director's designee, (4) six members appointed by the Governor, who shall each be actively engaged in agricultural production or aquaculture production, provided not less than one of whom shall be socially disadvantaged, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, and not less than one of whom shall be engaged in aquaculture production, (5) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be engaged in urban agriculture production, (6) one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be engaged in agricultural marketing, (7) one member appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a new and beginning farmer, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, (8) one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be from a trade association, (9) one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be from the green industry, (10) one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be actively engaged in agricultural education, and (11) the director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the co-vice-chairperson. Each member appointed pursuant to subdivisions (4) to (10), inclusive, of this subsection shall serve for a term of three years from the date of such member's appointment.

(b) The council shall make recommendations to the Department of Agriculture on ways to increase agriculture in the state by developing innovative market opportunities including, but not limited to, urban agriculture, integration and adoption of new technologies, controlled environment agriculture and diversification of products and opportunities. The council shall also make recommendations concerning the development, diversification and promotion of agriculture in this state and shall provide for an interchange of ideas from the various commodity groups and organizations represented.

(c) The council shall meet not less than once per calendar quarter and (1) as often as deemed necessary by the chairperson, or (2) upon a call for such a meeting by a quorum of the membership of the council. A majority of the members on the council shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled by the applicable appointing authority. The members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses. Any member absent from more than two meetings in a calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned.