(a) There is established, pursuant to Section 254 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, a state plan to provide for the implementation of that act. There shall be appointed a committee of 23 individuals to assist the Secretary of State in the development of the state plan. The committee membership shall reflect the racial diversity of the state.
(b) In accordance with the provisions of Section 255 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the members of the committee shall include the following:
(1) The judge of probate of the most populous county in the state, according to the most recent federal decennial census.
(2) The judge of probate of the second most populous county in the state according to the most recent federal decennial census.
(3) Three additional election officials, serving in a county or municipality in the state, to be appointed by the Secretary of State, one of whom shall be recommended by the Probate Judges' Association, one of whom shall be recommended by the Sheriffs' Association, and one of whom shall be recommended by the Circuit Clerks' Association.
(4) Five individuals in the state, representing the interests of the electorate to be appointed by the Secretary of State, one of whom shall represent the political party with the highest number of votes in the last presidential election in the state, recommended by the chair of the party, one of whom shall represent the political party with the second highest number of votes in the last presidential election in the state, recommended by the chair of the party, and one of whom shall represent an organization serving as an advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
(5) Three private citizens, representing the public at large, to be appointed by the Governor.
(6) Five members of the state House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and two members of the state Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate and three members of the state Senate to be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate.
(c) Members of the committee shall be appointed within 14 days after June 19, 2003 and shall hold their initial organizational meeting within 30 days after June 19, 2003. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members. The members of the committee shall serve without compensation but shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
(d) The members appointed by the Secretary of State to serve on the first state plan committee will serve until the next gubernatorial inauguration in January of 2007. Thereafter, each member appointed by the Secretary of State shall serve for a term of four years, with each term starting and ending on the date of the state gubernatorial inauguration. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(e) The committee shall have the power and the duty to advise the Secretary of State on the further development of the state plan, which the Secretary of State must develop and submit to the Election Assistance Commission in accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The committee shall make recommendations on all aspects of the state plan described in Section 254 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
(f) Twelve members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. A vote of a majority of the members of the board is required for the issuance of recommendations in accordance with subsection (e). The committee shall meet as needed to fulfill the requirements of this section.