Section 36-4-204 - Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board established; terms; meetings; duties, conflict of interest(a) There is created the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board. The board shall consist of nine (9) members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, who shall be residents of Wyoming. The members shall be appointed from each of the judicial districts set forth in W.S. 5-3-101. The board membership shall reflect a broad spectrum of outdoor recreation experiences, which may include wildlife management, sportsmen, tourism, motorized and non-motorized recreation and private land ownership.(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, each appointed member of the board shall serve for a term of six (6) years and may be reappointed for one (1) consecutive, additional term. Upon creation of the Wyoming outdoor recreation and tourism trust account board, three (3) members of the board shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years and three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of six (6) years. The governor may remove any member as provided in W.S. 9-1-202. Any vacancy occurring between sessions of the legislature may be filled by the governor as provided under W.S. 28-12-101(b). The board shall select one (1) of its members to serve as chairman.(c) The secretary to the board shall be the manager of the Wyoming outdoor recreation office within the department of state parks and cultural resources. The secretary to the board shall administer funds at the direction of the board and shall further act as liaison for the board to other state, federal and local governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, or the cooperative tribal governing body, as well as nonprofit organizations, residents and nonresidents who seek to provide input regarding grant proposals.(d) The board shall meet regularly, not less than four (4) time per year. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in the manner and amounts provided by law for state employees.(e) The board shall receive and evaluate applications for grants from the income account and shall forward applications for large projects to the select committee for review and recommendation. The board may approve grants for any small project. Funds in the income account are continuously appropriated for small project grants approved by the board and for approved large projects as specified by W.S. 36-4-203(e).(f) The board shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act as necessary to carry out its duties under this act, including rules and regulations to: (i) Establish criteria for grants from the income account which accomplish the purposes of this act;(ii) Establish criteria for matching funds or other in-kind contributions from grantees;(iii) Evaluate and rank grant proposals, with emphasis on those projects that include support from multiple partners and funding sources;(iv) Review and monitor grants to grantees;(v) Evaluate the effects of grant proposals on providing recreation and tourism opportunities for residents and nonresidents;(vi) Establish criteria for the acceptance or rejection of gifts, transfers, bequests and donations including interests in real or personal property, which criteria shall be consistent with this act. Based on those criteria, the board shall make a recommendation regarding the acceptance of any fee simple interest in real property to the board of land commissioners. Based on the board's recommendation, the board of land commissioners shall make a final determination on acceptance or rejection of any fee simple interest in real property under this act;(vii) Consider the benefits and impacts of grant proposals on local communities, including its socioeconomic, cultural, natural and wildlife resources;(viii) Consult, or ensure that the applicant has consulted, with other governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribe, or the cooperative tribal governing body, stakeholders and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate.(g) In fulfilling its duties under this act the board may: (i) Accept or decline federal grants and other contributions, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations of any money, personal property or interests in real property other than a fee simple interest from any source. The board shall make a recommendation regarding the acceptance of any fee simple interest in real property to the board of land commissioners;(ii) Recommend to the joint appropriations committee and the select committee that funds be transferred from the income account to the trust account.(h) No board member shall vote or otherwise participate in any matter regarding a contract or project in which the board member has a financial or personal interest. When such interest appears, the board member shall make such interest known, and shall thenceforth refrain from voting on or otherwise participating in the particular matter involving such interest.(j) The board shall annually report to the governor, the joint appropriations committee, the select committee and the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee no later than October 1 with respect to all federal grants, state appropriations and other contributions, grants, gifts, bequests and donations received and credited to the trust account or income account during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall include all grants awarded by the board to governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribe, or the cooperative tribal governing body and nonprofit organizations and progress made toward the condition of any grant made.Added by Laws 2024, ch. 42,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2024.