The Florida Forestry Council, hereinafter called the “council,” is hereby created in the Florida Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The council shall be composed of five members appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for terms of 4 years.(1) There shall be one member of the council from each of the following areas of forestry:(a) The pulp and paper manufacturing industry.
(b) A forest products industry other than that described in paragraph (a).
(c) A timber or timber products dealer.
(d) An individual forest landowner.
(e) An active member of a statewide conservation organization having as one of its principal objectives the conservation and development of the forest resource.
(2) Not fewer than two or more than three nominations shall be made for each membership on the council, and any statewide organization representing an area of forestry represented on the council may make nominations.
(3) The council shall meet at the call of its chair, at the request of a majority of its membership or of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or at such times as may be prescribed by its rules.
(4) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, and an act by a majority of such quorum at any meeting shall constitute an official act of the council.
(5) The powers and duties of the council shall be as follows:(a) To consider and study the entire field of forestry;
(b) To advise, counsel, and consult with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Director of the Florida Forest Service upon request in connection with the promulgation, administration, and enforcement of all laws and rules relating to forestry;
(c) To consider all matters submitted to it by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the Director of the Florida Forest Service;
(d) To offer suggestions and recommendations to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Director of the Florida Forest Service on its own initiative in regard to changes in the laws and rules relating to forestry as may be deemed advisable to secure the effective administration and enforcement of such laws and rules relating to the work of the Florida Forest Service; and
(e) To keep a complete record of all its proceedings, showing the names of the members present at each meeting and any action taken by the council, and to file and maintain such records in the Florida Forest Service as a public record.
