32-847. Flint Hills advisory council; organization; duties. (a) There is hereby established the Flint Hills advisory council. The council shall study and assess the development, staffing, maintenance and promotion of the Flint Hills nature trail. The council shall report its findings and recommendations to the Kansas department of wildlife, parks and tourism on a quarterly basis.

(b) The Flint Hills advisory council shall consist of the following members:

(1) Two members of the Kansas legislature who reside in a district adjoining the Flint Hills nature trail, or the members' designees, one to be appointed by the president of the senate and one to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(2) one county commissioner of Miami county, or the commissioner's designee, to be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Miami county;

(3) one resident of Miami county to be appointed by the governing body of the county seat;

(4) one county commissioner of Franklin county, or the commissioner's designee, to be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Franklin county;

(5) one resident of Franklin county to be appointed by the governing body of the county seat;

(6) one county commissioner of Osage county, or the commissioner's designee, to be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Osage county;

(7) one resident of Osage county to be appointed by the governing body of the county seat;

(8) one county commissioner of Lyon county, or the commissioner's designee, to be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Lyon county;

(9) one resident of Lyon county to be appointed by the governing body of the county seat;

(10) one county commissioner of Morris county, or the commissioner's designee, to be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Morris county;

(11) one resident of Morris county to be appointed by the governing body of the county seat;

(12) one county commissioner of Dickinson county, or the commissioner's designee, to be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Dickinson county; and

(13) one resident of Dickinson county to be appointed by the governing body of the county seat.

(c) The appointing authorities listed in subsection (b)(2) through (13) shall give consideration to individuals who own land that is adjacent to the Flint Hills nature trail when appointing members to the Flint Hills advisory council.

(d) The member appointed in subsection (b)(1) by the speaker of the house of representatives shall serve as the first chairperson of the Flint Hills advisory council and the member appointed in subsection (b)(1) by the president of the senate shall serve as the first vice-chairperson of the council. The position of chairperson and vice-chairperson shall alternate annually upon the first meeting of the council in each calendar year.

(e) (1) Members of the Flint Hills advisory council shall be appointed no later than August 1, 2018. Any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled by appointment in the same manner prescribed in this section for the original appointment.

(2) The council shall meet quarterly and at the call of the chairperson or upon the request of a majority of the council.

(f) The members of the Flint Hills advisory council shall be appointed for terms not to exceed three years and, with the exception of the chairperson and vice-chairperson, shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. The initial terms for the members will be staggered as follows:

(1) Members appointed in subsection (b)(2), (7), (8) and (13) shall serve for an initial term of one year;

(2) members appointed in subsection (b)(3), (4), (9) and (10) shall serve for an initial term of two years; and

(3) members appointed in subsection (b)(5), (6), (11) and (12) shall serve for an initial term of three years.

(g) Subject to approval by the legislative coordinating council, legislative members of the Flint Hills advisory council shall receive amounts provided in K.S.A. 75-3223(e), and amendments thereto.

(h) The provisions of this section shall expire on July 1, 2021.

History: L. 2018, ch. 74, § 1; July 1.