Article 3. Livestock Identification Advisory Board of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 10. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 3.

As used in this article, "board" means the Livestock Identification Advisory Board.

There is in the department the Livestock Identification Advisory Board, which consists of seven members. The director may appoint one additional member on the board, as provided in Section 20463.

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that persons appointed to the Livestock Identification Advisory Board pursuant to this article are intended to represent and further the interest of the particular agricultural industries concerned, and that such representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that, with respect to persons who are appointed to such board, the particular agricultural industries concerned are tantamount to, and constitutes, the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.

The director shall appoint the members to the board as follows:
  (a) Two shall be beef cattle producers.
  (b) Two shall be dairymen.
  (c) One shall be engaged in the livestock marketing business.
  (d) Two shall be operators of registered feedlots. The director may appoint one additional member on the board, who shall be a public member. Upon the director's request, the board shall submit to the director the names of three or more natural persons, each of whom shall be a citizen and resident of this state and not a producer, shipper, or processor nor financially interested in any producer, shipper, or processor, for appointment by the director as a public member of the board. The director may appoint one of the nominees as the public member on the board. If all nominees are unsatisfactory to the director, the board shall continue to submit lists of nominees until the director has made a selection. Any vacancy in the office of the public member of the board shall be filled by appointment by the director from the nominee or nominees similarly qualified submitted by the board. The public member of the board shall represent the interests of the general public in all matters coming before the board and shall have the same voting and other rights and immunities as other members of the board.

In making his selection of the membership of the board, the director shall take into consideration the recommendations of organizations and associations of cattlemen, dairymen, livestock marketing agencies, and general farm organizations.

The term of office of the members of the board is four years. Any vacancy which occurs during an unexpired term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term.

The members of the board shall serve without compensation but are entitled to their traveling expenses in the same amount as is provided for other nonsalaried board and commission members who serve the state.

The board shall assist the director and the Chief of the Bureau of Livestock Identification in the administration and enforcement of Part 1 (commencing with Section 16301) and Part 2 (commencing with Section 17401) of Division 9, Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 18351) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 18501) of Part 3 of Division 9, Division 10 (commencing with Section 20001), and Division 11 (commencing with Section 23001). The board shall make recommendations to the director concerning such administration and enforcement. Any such recommendation shall be made effective upon approval of the director, including recommendations under subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (d) of Section 20469.

The members of the board shall confer with all of the following regarding matters which are involved in the administration of the enforcement functions of the Bureau of Livestock Identification:
  (a) The director and the Chief of the Bureau of Livestock Identification.
  (b) Livestock producers and marketers.
  (c) Farm and livestock organizations.
  (d) Other cooperating agencies.

The board shall make recommendations to the director and to the Chief of the Bureau of Livestock Identification relative to all of the following:
  (a) Improvements and changes in the administration and enforcement of the hide and brand laws and regulations which are adopted pursuant to such laws.
  (b) Procedures which are followed by the Bureau of Livestock Identification.
  (c) Curbing of livestock thefts.
  (d) The annual budget for the Bureau of Livestock Identification.
  (e) Legislation which is designed to improve the functioning of the bureau.

The board shall meet at the call of its chairman. It shall meet at least once in every three months.

The meetings of the board shall be held in the offices of the department at Sacramento, or elsewhere within the state, if necessary for the proper performance of its duties.