17-202

17-202. Arizona game and fish commission
appointment recommendation board

A. The Arizona game and fish commission appointment recommendation board is
established consisting of members appointed by the governor pursuant to this section and
section 38-211. The board shall consist of one person who has been a resident of this
state for at least five years from each of the following qualifying groups:

1. One member designated by the board of directors of an organization that is
qualified pursuant to section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code, whose
membership consists of a significant cross-section of wildlife conservation and sportsmen
organizations from throughout the state, that does not have an affiliation or charter
with a national wildlife conservation or sportsman's organization and that has been in
existence for at least five years.

2. One member designated by the board of directors of an organization that is
qualified pursuant to section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code whose
articles of incorporation or bylaws stipulate that the mission or purpose of the
organization is to increase, sustain or otherwise conserve wild turkey, deer, elk,
pronghorn (antelope), bighorn sheep, ducks, quail and fish and that has been in existence
for at least five years.

3. One member designated by the board of directors of an organization that is
qualified pursuant to section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code whose
articles of incorporation or bylaws define it as a sportsman's organization whose
membership is primarily confined to a specific geographic area or region of the state or
an organization described in paragraph 2 of this subsection or is a chapter or affiliate
of a national sportsman's conservation or shooting organization and that has been in
existence for at least five years.

4. One member designated by the board of directors of an organization that is
qualified pursuant to section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code that is
statewide, whose membership is comprised of cattlemen or ranchers and that has been in
existence for at least five years.

5. One member of the general public or one member of a nongame organization that is
qualified pursuant to section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the internal revenue code.

B. Except as otherwise provided by law, members of the board serve five year terms
of office. A board member must maintain continuous membership in the organization the
member represented when appointed during the entire term of office. The governor may
remove a member of the board for inefficiency, conflict of interest, neglect of duty or
misconduct in office and replace the member with an individual from the same organization
represented by the former member. If a board member dies, resigns or is removed from
office, the governor shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy within thirty days
from the same organization represented by the former member.

C. Three members of the board constitute a quorum. Meetings of the board shall be
held at the Arizona game and fish department main office or at a regional office as
determined by the board. The department shall issue a public notice at least one week
before the meeting.

D. Members of the board are not eligible for compensation for their services or
reimbursement of expenses.

E. The board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending
candidates to fill vacancies on the Arizona game and fish commission as follows:

1. After the governor's call for applications for an open position on the
commission and the application period is closed, the governor shall deliver a final list
of the applicants to the board within five days after the close of the application
period. The board shall review the list of applicants and the application submitted by
each applicant and proceed to interview, evaluate and recommend candidates as provided by
this subsection.

2. If the board is considering candidates to fill the office of a commission member
whose designated term is about to expire:

(a) On or before November 15 of each year, the board shall host a public forum to
interview the commission candidates. The department shall issue a notice of the public
forum at least five days before the scheduled date of the forum.

(b) On or before November 25, the board shall recommend at least two, but no more
than five, candidates from the governor's final list of candidates.

3. If the board is considering candidates for a vacancy resulting from a commission
member's death, resignation or removal from office:

(a) Not later than two weeks after receipt of the final list of commission
candidates from the governor, the board shall host a public forum to interview the
candidates. The department shall issue a notice of the public forum at least five days
before the scheduled date of the forum.

(b) Within one week after the public forum, the board shall recommend at least two,
but no more than five, candidates from the governor's final list of candidates.

F. The board shall assist the governor to identify commission applicants.