Section 203 - CommissionerThe department is under the control and supervision of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, who reports directly to the Governor. [2011, c. 657, Pt. V, §1(NEW); 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §17(AFF).]
1.Appointment. The Governor shall appoint the commissioner, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters and confirmation by the Senate. The commissioner, who must be a person of recognized executive ability and who must possess training, knowledge or experience in agricultural production, conservation, forestry and natural resource management, serves at the pleasure of the Governor. [2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §10(AMD); 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §17(AFF).]
2.Deputies; staff.[2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §11(RP); 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §17(AFF).]
2-A.Deputy; staff. The commissioner shall appoint a deputy commissioner to assist the commissioner with the operations of the department. The commissioner shall also appoint a natural resource marketing and economic development specialist, who shall assist the commissioner in the identification and tracking of natural resource industry trends, who shall work with natural resource groups to identify value-added opportunities and who shall coordinate with other governmental agencies to help management to improve the sustainability of the State's agricultural resources and the long-term health of the State's agricultural, forestry and natural resource-based industries. [2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §12(NEW).]
3.Vacancy; commissioner. A vacancy in the office of the commissioner must be filled as follows. A. A vacancy in the commissioner's position must be filled in accordance with Title 5, section 1. [2011, c. 657, Pt. V, §1(NEW); 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §17(AFF).]B. The commissioner shall appoint one of the department's deputy commissioners to perform the duties of the commissioner, in addition to the duties of that deputy commissioner, during the commissioner's temporary absence or disability. [2011, c. 657, Pt. V, §1(NEW); 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §17(AFF).] [2011, c. 657, Pt. V, §1(NEW); 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §17(AFF).]
Amended by 2013, c. 405,§ A-10 to § A-12, eff. 10/9/2013.Added by 2012, c. 657,§ V-1, eff. 8/30/2012.