Section 324.72110a - Equine trails subcommittee; creation; staffing; funding; membership; appointments; terms; vacancy; removal; meetings; quorum; business conducted at public meetings; writings subject to freedom of information act; compensation; duties(1) The equine trails subcommittee is created as a subcommittee of the advisory council. The department may provide staffing and administrative support to the equine trails subcommittee. The equine trails subcommittee may also be staffed and funded by user groups and other interested persons.(2) Subject to subsection (3), the equine trails subcommittee shall consist of the following members appointed by the director: (a) One individual representing the state's tourism industry.(b) Five individuals representing the equine industry as follows: (i) One individual from the Upper Peninsula.(ii) One individual from the northern Lower Peninsula.(iii) One individual from the central Lower Peninsula.(iv) One individual from the southeastern Lower Peninsula.(v) One individual from the southwestern Lower Peninsula.(3) The senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each submit a list of 3 persons to the director. The director shall appoint at least 1 person from each of those lists to the equine trails subcommittee.(4) Members of the equine trails subcommittee shall serve for terms of 4 years or until a successor is appointed, whichever is later, except that of the members first appointed 2 shall serve for 2 years, 2 shall serve for 3 years, and 2 shall serve for 4 years.(5) If a vacancy occurs on the equine trails subcommittee, an appointment for the unexpired term shall be made in the same manner as the original appointment.(6) A member of the equine trails subcommittee may be removed for incompetency, dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office, or any other good cause.(7) The first meeting of the equine trails subcommittee shall be called by the department within 30 days after the appointments have been made. At the first meeting, the equine trails subcommittee shall elect from among its members a chairperson and other officers as it considers necessary or appropriate. After the first meeting, the equine trails subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly, or more frequently at the call of the chairperson or if requested by 3 or more members.(8) A majority of the members of the equine trails subcommittee constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the equine trails subcommittee. A majority of the members present and serving are required for official action of the equine trails subcommittee.(9) The business that the equine trails subcommittee may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the equine trails subcommittee held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.(10) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the equine trails subcommittee in the performance of an official function is subject to the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.(11) Members of the equine trails subcommittee shall serve without compensation. However, subject to the availability of funding, members of the equine trails subcommittee may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the equine trails subcommittee.(12) The equine trails subcommittee shall do all of the following: (a) Prepare and submit to the advisory council a recommended plan for a statewide network of pack and saddle trails. The recommended plan for a statewide pack and saddle trails network shall include both of the following:(i) All pack and saddle trails on state owned land that have previously been open for use by pack and saddle animals at any time and that the equine trails subcommittee determines are appropriate for pack and saddle trails.(ii) All additional state lands that the equine trails subcommittee determines would be appropriate for pack and saddle animals and would contribute to a statewide network of pack and saddle trails.(b) Advise the advisory council and the department on the development and use of the pack and saddle trails network.(c) Advise the advisory council and the department on other matters related to the promotion of the state's equine industry.(d) Advise the advisory council and the department on funding to conduct pack and saddle trail reviews under section 72115 and to provide for the reopening of previously closed pack and saddle trails, the preservation of existing pack and saddle trails, and the development of new pack and saddle trails across this state.Amended by 2014, Act 213,s 2, eff. 9/25/2014.Added by 2010, Act 46,s 5 , eff. 4/2/2010.