(4) diverse geographic regions of the State.

(c) The Council shall consist of 12 members, with 6 members
representing
retail marketers, 4 members representing producers, and 2 public
members.
Other than the public members, Council members shall be full-time employees or
owners of businesses in the industry or representatives of agricultural
cooperatives.  No employee of a qualified industry organization shall serve as
a member of the Council, and no member of the Council may serve concurrently as
an officer of the board of directors of a qualified industry organization or
other trade
association.  Only one person at a time from any company or its affiliate may
serve on the Council.
The Director may serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the Council.

(d) Council members shall receive no compensation for their services. Council members may be reimbursed for reasonable
expenses directly related to their participation in Council meetings.

(e) Council members shall serve terms of 3 years.  
The Council shall notify the Director of the name, address, and propane-related
affiliation, if any, of a Council member within 30 days after the
appointment of the member to the Council.

(f) The Council shall develop programs and projects and enter into contracts
or agreements for implementing this Act, including programs to enhance consumer
and employee safety and training, to provide for research and development of
clean and efficient propane utilization equipment, to inform and educate the
public about safety and other issues associated with the use of propane, and to
provide for the payment of the costs thereof with funds collected pursuant to
this Act.  The Council shall coordinate its activities with industry trade
associations and others as appropriate to provide efficient delivery of
services and to avoid unnecessary duplication of activities.

(g) Issues related to research and development, safety, education, and
training shall be given priority by the Council in the development of its
programs and projects.

(h) The Council shall select from among its members a Chairperson and other
officers as necessary, may establish committees and subcommittees of the
Council, and shall adopt rules and bylaws for the conduct of business and the
implementation of this Act.  The Council shall establish procedures for the
solicitation of industry comment and recommendations on any significant plans,
programs, and projects to be funded by the Council.  The Council may establish
advisory committees of persons other than Council members.

(i) At the beginning of each fiscal period, the Council shall prepare a
budget plan for the next fiscal period, including the probable cost of all
programs, projects, and contracts and a recommended rate of assessment
sufficient to cover such costs.
The Council shall submit the proposed budget to the Director for review and
comment.  The Director may recommend programs and activities considered
appropriate.

(j) The Council shall keep minutes, books, and records that clearly reflect
all of the acts and transactions of the Council and make public such
information.  The books of the Council shall be audited by a certified public
accountant at least once each fiscal year and at such other times as the
Council may designate.
The expense of the audit shall be the responsibility of the Council.
Copies of such audit shall be provided to all members
of the Council, all qualified industry organizations, and to other members of
the industry upon request.

(Source: P.A. 93-716, eff. 1-1-05.)