(1) The Environmental Restoration Council is established in the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. The council consists of 13 members as follows: (a) The Governor or the Governors designee. (b) The Director of the Department of Environmental Quality or the directors designee. (c) The State Fish and Wildlife Director or the directors designee. (d) The Director of the Oregon Health Authority or the directors designee. (e) The Attorney General or the Attorney Generals designee. (f)(A) Six members, appointed by the Governor, who have expertise and a demonstrated interest in environmental remediation and the impacts from contamination to water, air or land on people or the environment. The Governor shall endeavor to appoint members with complementary expertise under this paragraph. (B) Of the members appointed under this paragraph, at least two must possess scientific expertise with the environmental or human health impacts of PCB or other similar substances in the environment. (C) Council members appointed under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph need not reside in Oregon. (g) A member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate to be a nonvoting advisory member of the council. (h) A member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to be a nonvoting advisory member of the council. (2) The term of office of each member of the council appointed by the Governor is four years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. A member is eligible for reappointment but may not serve more than two consecutive terms. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term. (3) Each legislative member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may serve as long as the member remains in the chamber of the Legislative Assembly from which the member was appointed. (4) The Governor shall appoint a member of the council to serve as chairperson. (5) A majority of the voting members of the council constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (6) The council shall meet annually at the time and place specified by the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the council. The council may meet at other times and places as determined by the chairperson or a majority of the members of the council. (7) The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board shall provide staff support to the council. The board may enter into agreements with other state agencies to provide additional staff support to the council. (8)(a) The council may create advisory committees as necessary to advise the council on carrying out the functions of the council. (b) The council may appoint to an advisory committee any person that the council determines possesses expertise or information that may assist the council in the performance of its duties. (9)(a) Voting members of the council, and members of an advisory committee appointed under subsection (8) of this section who are not members of the council, may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred by the member in the performance of official duties in the same manner and amount as provided by ORS 292.495. (b) Members of the council who are members of the Legislative Assembly are entitled to payment of compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 171.072, payable from funds appropriated to the Legislative Assembly. (10) The council shall submit a report each biennium to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly in the manner provided by ORS 192.245. The report must describe the purposes for which moneys expended from the State Agency Program Fund established under ORS 541.867, the Disproportionately Impacted Community Fund established under ORS 541.871 and the Tribal Nation Natural Resource Program Fund established under ORS 541.876 were used and the outcomes achieved by funding recipients. (11) In accordance with the provisions of ORS chapter 183, the council may adopt rules necessary for the administration of the laws that the council is charged with administering. Note: See note under 541.857. Note: Section 14, chapter 97, Oregon Laws 2024, provides: Sec. 14. Notwithstanding the term of office specified in section 5 (2), chapter 97, Oregon Laws 2024 [541.861 (2)], of the members of the Environmental Restoration Council first appointed by the Governor under section 5 (1)(f), chapter 97, Oregon Laws 2024: (1) Two shall serve a term of two years; and (2) Two shall serve a term of three years.
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