(a) The Electrical Energy Advancement Program Fund Board is created to make recommendations to the Arkansas Statewide Energy Consortium regarding the allocation of funds for the programs approved under this subchapter.
(b) The board is composed of fifteen (15) members as follows:
(1)
(A) The Executive Director of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission or the executive director's designee, who shall serve as chair of the board and represent the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
(B) The chair shall be a regular voting member with one (1) vote;
(2) Seven (7) of the members from the private electrical energy sector;
(3) Three (3) of the members from the United States Department of Energy national laboratories;
(4) One (1) member who is designated by Arkansas State University;
(5) One (1) member who is designated by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock;
(6) The Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission or his or her designee; and
(7) One (1) member who is designated by the Arkansas Public Service Commission.
(c)
(1) Each private electrical energy sector member of the board shall:
(A)
(i) Be from an organization that is:
(a) Involved in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity; or
(b) Engaged in the design or manufacturing of electrical equipment for the generation, transmission, distribution, or power conversion of electricity including electrified transportation.
(ii) An individual under this subdivision (c)(1)(A) shall have experience managing an organization that meets the description of this subdivision (c)(1)(A); and
(B) Have obtained at least an undergraduate degree from a four-year institution of higher education in science or engineering.
(2) Each national laboratory member of the board shall:
(A) Be from a national laboratory group directly involved in the research and development of advanced technologies for the electric power grid; and
(B) Have obtained at least an undergraduate degree from a four-year institution of higher education in science or engineering.
(d)
(1) The chair shall seek nominations for the initial list of private electrical energy sector and national laboratory board members from:
(A) Each member of the board who is not from the private electrical energy sector or a national laboratory; and
(B) The Governor.
(2) From the recommendations, the chair will nominate the initial private electrical energy sector and national laboratory board members to the balance of the board for consideration and appointment to the board.
(e)
(1) Except for the initial terms identified under this subsection, each private electrical energy sector and national laboratory board member shall serve a four-year term, with a maximum of two (2) consecutive four-year terms.
(2) The initial terms of the private electrical energy sector board members shall be as follows:
(A) One (1) member shall serve a one-year term;
(B) Two (2) members shall serve a two-year term;
(C) Two (2) members shall serve a three-year term; and
(D) Two (2) members shall serve a four-year term.
(3) The initial terms of the national laboratory board members shall be as follows:
(A) One (1) member shall serve a two-year term;
(B) One (1) member shall serve a three-year term; and
(C) One (1) member shall serve a four-year term.
(4) The chair shall determine the terms of the initial private and national laboratory members of the board.
(5) Each member may be reappointed from time to time thereafter to serve no more than a maximum of eight (8) consecutive years including his or her initial term.
(f) Successors to the initial private electrical energy sector and national laboratory board members shall be nominated by the chair upon recommendation by the board.
(g) Members of the board who are not private electrical energy sector or national laboratory board members shall serve at the pleasure of the entities where they are employed.
(h)
(1) The chair shall call the first meeting of the board not less than three (3) months after funding is received in the Electrical Energy Advancement Program Fund.
(2) Subsequent meetings shall be held on the call of the chair and shall convene at the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission.
(i) A quorum shall consist of not less than a majority of the voting membership of the board, and the affirmative vote of that number is necessary for the disposition of the board's business.
(j)
(1) Members of the board shall receive no pay for services with respect to attendance at each regular or special meeting of the board.
(2)
(A) However, if funds are appropriated for the purpose and subject to board approval, members are entitled to reimbursement under § 25-16-902 for each day the board is in session.
(B) Reimbursement is in an amount equal to the maximum daily allowance for meals and lodging paid as provided by law to a state employee for in-state travel plus mileage at the rate per mile provided by law for the reimbursement of mileage expense for state employees for travel from their homes to the place of the meeting and their return.
(k) The National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission shall provide staff for the board.