§ 15-3-104 - Members. - Arkansas Statutes

15-3-104. Members.

(a) The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority shall be governed by fourteen (14) directors, who together shall serve as the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.

(b) Directors shall be legal residents of the State of Arkansas.

(c) The board shall consist of the Director of the Department of Higher Education or the director's designee, and thirteen (13) directors who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, as follows:

(1) Three (3) directors shall be engineers or scientists recognized for their scientific or technological research efforts;

(2) Two (2) directors shall be appointed as representatives of academic institutions who have an extended extensive involvement in science and technology research;

(3) Five (5) directors shall be representatives of the private sector of the state, who shall be persons with knowledge or experience in the fields of agriculture, forestry, finance, economic development, or science and technology; and

(4) Three (3) directors shall be appointed as representatives of the private sector of the state, who shall be persons with knowledge or experience in the field of manufacturing.

(d) In making appointments, the Governor shall give consideration to geographical representation in order that each major area of the state will be represented on the board.

(e) Directors shall be appointed for terms running four (4) years from January 14 of the year of appointment. Directors shall hold office for the terms of their appointments and until their successors have been appointed and qualified.

(f) In the event of a vacancy in the position of director, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor in the same manner as provided for the initial appointment for the remainder of the unexpired portion of the term of the director.

(g) No director of the authority shall serve more than two (2) terms of office.

(h) A director of the authority may be removed by the Governor for cause, stated in writing, after a hearing or upon joint address of a majority of the membership of both houses of the General Assembly at a regular session, fiscal session, or special session.

(i) Unless otherwise provided by law, a director of the authority may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with 25-16-901 et seq. Such expenses and mileage shall be paid from funds appropriated for such purpose or otherwise available to the authority.