1. A. There is hereby created the Task Force on Agriculture Cooperatives.

2. B. The Task Force shall consist of fifteen (15) members, twelve members to be appointed by July 1, 1998, as follows:

   1. 1. The Governor shall appoint four members as follows:

      1. a. one member who shall be a representative of an agriculture-related organization,
      2. b. one member who shall be a representative of an agriculture commodity group in this state,
      3. c. one member who shall represent the agricultural lending industry, and
      4. d. one member who shall be a representative of a nonprofit center in this state with an interest in sustainable agriculture;

   2. 2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint four members as follows:

      1. a. one member who shall be a representative of an agriculture-related organization,
      2. b. one member who shall be a representative of an agriculture commodity group,
      3. c. one member who shall represent the agricultural lending industry, and
      4. d. one member who shall be a representative of a comprehensive university in this state;

   3. 3. The President Pro Tempore shall appoint four members as follows:

      1. a. one member who shall be a representative of an agriculture related organization,
      2. b. one member who shall be a representative of an agriculture commodity group,
      3. c. one member who shall represent the agricultural lending industry, and
      4. d. one member who shall be a representative of a comprehensive university in this state;
   4. 4. The Chairperson of the House Agriculture Committee, who shall be an ex officio nonvoting member;
   5. 5. The Chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, who shall be an ex officio nonvoting member; and
   6. 6. The Secretary of Agriculture, who shall be an ex officio nonvoting member.
3. C. The chairperson of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Speaker of, the House of Representatives and shall be one of the appointees of the Speaker. The chairperson of the Task Force shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and shall be one of the appointees of the President Pro Tempore
4. D. The Task Force shall meet at such times and places as it deems necessary, to perform its duties as specified in this section. Meetings shall be held at the .all of the chair and shall be conducted in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. A majority of the members serving on the Task Force shall, constitute a quorum.

5. E. Members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as follows:

   1. 1. Legislative members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed by their appointing authorities for their necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes from the legislative body which they serve;
   2. 2. Nonlegislative members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed by their appointing authorities for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act; and
   3. 3. The Secretary of Agriculture shall be reimbursed by the State Department of Agriculture for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
6. F. The State Department of Agriculture shall provide such staff support as is required by the Task Force.
7. G. It shall be the duty of the Task Force to develop public policy recommendations relating to product development and marketing oriented agricultural cooperatives.
8. H. The Task Force shall develop public policy options and recommendations relating to agricultural cooperatives and shall submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate no later than January 31, 1999. The Task Force shall be terminated as of March 1, 1999.

Added by Laws 1998, c. 49, § 1, emerg. eff. April 2, 1998.