Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 3, § 3801. Horticulture Commission

A. The Horticulture Commission of Louisiana is hereby created within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to be comprised of the following members:

B. The commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the assistant commissioner of agricultural and environmental sciences, and the director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service shall serve as ex officio members with the same rights, powers, and privileges as the other members.

C. The following members shall be appointed by the commissioner, subject to confirmation of the Senate, and shall serve terms of four calendar years beginning with the year of appointment in accordance with the following provisions:

D. Vacancies in the office of the appointed members shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made within ninety days of the date the vacancy occurred and shall be for the unexpired portion of the term of the office vacated.

E. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business and the carrying out of the duties of the commission. Each member shall take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed for state officers. Members of the commission shall not receive any salary for their duties as members. The appointed members who are not state employees or officers may receive a per diem for each day spent in actual attendance of meetings of the commission or of duly appointed committees or subcommittees of the commission. The amount of the per diem shall be fixed by the commission in an amount not to exceed forty dollars. The appointed members who are not state employees or officers may receive a mileage allowance for mileage traveled in attending meetings. The mileage allowance shall be fixed by the commission in an amount not to exceed the mileage rate for state employees.

F. The commissioner is hereby authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to enforce the provisions of this Chapter. The commission is hereby authorized to carry out the intent of the laws contained in this Chapter, including but not limited to rules and regulations for the following purposes:

G. The commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the assistant commissioner for agricultural and environmental sciences, and the director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service may name designees to attend meetings for those officers. The commissioner may appoint an alternate member for each member he appoints. If the member is appointed from a list of nominees, the alternate shall be appointed from the same list. Any designee or alternate who attends a meeting as a representative of a member shall have the same rights, powers, and privileges, including voting rights, as the member he represents.

H. The commission, by a vote of two-thirds of the appointed members, may expel a member who has accumulated three consecutive unexcused absences from commission meetings.

I. The commission shall employ a director and assistant director who shall be appointed by the commission, subject to the approval of the commissioner. The director and assistant director shall be in the unclassified service.