(A) There is hereby created the dangerous and restricted animals advisory board consisting of the following members:
(1) The director of agriculture or the director's designee, who shall be the chairperson of the board;
(2) The director of natural resources or the director's designee;
(3) The director of health or the director's designee;
(4) The state veterinarian in the department of agriculture;
(5) The following eleven members who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate and shall be residents of this state:
(a) One member representing dangerous wild animal or restricted snake owners;
(b) One member who is knowledgeable about dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes;
(c) One member representing an accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums that operates in this state;
(d) One member representing an accredited member of the zoological association of America;
(e) Two members who are veterinarians;
(f) Two members representing the public;
(g) One member representing the governor;
(h) One member representing a humane society;
(i) One member representing a board of health.
(6) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall be a restricted snake owner;
(7) One member appointed by the president of the senate who shall be a dangerous wild animal owner.
Not more than seven members appointed to the board at any given time shall be members of the same political party.
(B)
(1) The governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate shall make initial appointments to the board not later than forty-five days after the effective date of this section.
(2) The following initial members of the board appointed by the governor shall be appointed for a term ending January 15, 2013:
(a) The member representing dangerous wild animal or restricted snake owners;
(b) One of the members who is a veterinarian;
(c) The member representing the governor;
(d) The member representing an accredited member of the zoological association of America;
(e) The member representing a board of health.
(3) The following initial members of the board shall be appointed for a term ending January 15, 2014:
(a) The member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(b) The member who is knowledgeable about dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes;
(c) The member representing a humane society;
(d) One of the members representing the public.
(4) The following initial members of the board shall be appointed for a term ending January 15, 2015:
(a) The member appointed by the president of the senate;
(b) The member representing an accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums that operates in this state;
(c) One of the members representing the public;
(d) One of the members who is a veterinarian.
Thereafter, terms of office of appointed members shall be for three years with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. An appointed member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed.
The terms of office of the director of agriculture, the director of natural resources, the director of health, their designees, and the state veterinarian shall coincide with the length of time that the person holds the position of director or state veterinarian or is a designee, as applicable. If a director, a designee, or the state veterinarian resigns or that person's employment is terminated, that person shall cease to serve on the board, and the successor of that person shall serve on the board in accordance with this section.
(C) Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of one hundred eighty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. A member may be reappointed upon the expiration of the member's term.
(D) The board shall hold at least three regular meetings each year and may hold additional meetings at times that the chairperson or a majority of the board members considers appropriate. At the first meeting of the board in each calendar year, the director of agriculture or the director's designee shall designate one member of the board to serve as its vice-chairperson. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum. The board may act only if a quorum is present and only by a majority vote of the members.
(E) Serving as an appointed member of the board does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of employment.
(F) Appointed members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services. Members shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members. The expenses shall be paid from the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section 935.25 of the Revised Code. The expenses shall be paid in accordance with the rules and requirements adopted by the department of administrative services that are applicable to state employees.
(G) The board may create committees that it considers appropriate to make recommendations to the board. Committees may include members who do not serve on the board.
(H) The board shall do both of the following:
(1) Review the rules that have been or are proposed to be adopted under divisions (A)(2) and (B) of section 935.17 of the Revised Code;
(2) Advise the director of agriculture on the administration of this chapter and rules.
Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.113, SB 310, ยง1, eff. 9/5/2012.
Section: Previous 935.17 935.18 935.19 935.20 935.21 935.22 935.23 935.24 935.25 935.26 935.27 935.28 935.29 935.99 NextLast modified: October 10, 2016