Section 3. Creation of commission; members.
(a) Creation.--There is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture a departmental administrative commission which shall be known as the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission.
(b) Membership.--
(1) The commission shall consist of the following 15
members:
(i) The Secretary of Agriculture of the
Commonwealth.
(ii) The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth.
(iii) The chairmen and minority chairmen of the
Agriculture Committees of both the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
(iv) Three accredited veterinarians appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the
members elected to the Senate.
(v) Six active farmers appointed by the Governor
with the advice and consent of a majority of the members
elected to the Senate. In appointing farmer members, the
Governor shall consider nominees suggested by Statewide
farm organizations, the poultry industry and equine and
livestock breeding organizations.
(2) The Secretary of Agriculture shall serve as the
chairman of the commission. At the last regular meeting of
the commission in the calendar year, the members of the
commission shall elect a vice chairman from among the members
of the commission. The member elected vice chairman shall
serve in that capacity for the ensuing year.
(3) Each member of the commission in the categories of
paragraph (1)(i) through (iii) may be represented by his
designee.
(4) Five of the nine members appointed by the Governor
shall be appointed to an initial term of two years. All other
members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of
four years. A member appointed by the Governor shall hold
office until his successor has been duly appointed and
qualified according to law but no longer than six months
beyond the period to which the member was appointed. Any
members appointed by the Governor to fill a vacancy occurring
otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be appointed in
the same way and with the same qualifications as set forth in
paragraph (1) and shall hold office for the remainder of the
unexpired term.
(5) Each member of the commission shall be eligible for
reappointment, and any member appointed to the commission by
the Governor may be removed by the Governor for neglect of
duty or malfeasance in office.
(6) Members appointed to the commission by the Governor
shall receive $100 per day for each day actually engaged in
the business of the commission as compensation for serving as
members and shall devote such time and effort to the
prosecution of the commission's business as is necessary to
fulfill the commission's obligations under law. Such members
shall also be entitled to reimbursement in accordance with
Commonwealth regulations for reasonable traveling, lodging
and other necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of
their duties.
(7) All members shall be employed or engaged in business
in this Commonwealth or, if retired, shall be residents of
this Commonwealth.
(8) A majority of the members of the commission shall
constitute a quorum. All decisions shall require the
concurrence of a majority of the members of the commission.
The commission shall keep a full and accurate record of all
proceedings and of all resolutions, regulations and orders
issued or adopted.