6 V.S.A. § 4644: Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund Review Board

(a) Creation. There is created the Farm and Forestry Operations Security Special Fund Review Board, which for administrative purposes shall be attached to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

(b) Organization of Board. The Board shall be composed of:

(1) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee, who shall serve as chair;

(2) the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation or designee;

(3) the State Chief Recovery Officer or designee;

(4) representatives of three agricultural organizations who can demonstrate expertise in dealing with all sizes and types of farms in Vermont, whether through granting funds, offering technical assistance, or advocacy, and who have a proven track record of working with farmers, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets;

(5) two farmers who have received relief funding, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets; and

(6) two forestry operators, appointed by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

(c) Member terms; conflict.

(1) The members designated in subdivision (b)(4) of this section shall be appointed to initial terms of two years. Thereafter, each appointed member shall serve a term of three years or until the member’s earlier resignation or removal. The members designated in subdivision (b)(5) of this section shall be appointed to initial terms of one year. The members designated in subdivision (b)(6) of this section shall be appointed to initial terms of two years. Thereafter, each appointed member shall serve a term of three years or until the member’s earlier resignation or removal. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term. An appointed member shall not serve more than three consecutive three-year terms.

(2) If a Board member has a conflict of interest, as that term is defined by 3 V.S.A. § 1201, regarding review of any application for a payment under this section, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets may appoint an alternate member to maintain a quorum of the Board to review an application and recommend whether payment should be awarded.

(d) Powers.

(1) The Review Board shall review applications for assistance under this section, assess the accuracy and validity of the applications, and recommend to the Secretary applicants who should receive assistance under this section.

(2) The Board annually shall report to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Agriculture the total documented Vermont farm and forestry operations financial losses from eligible weather conditions averaged over the previous three calendar years.

(3) In order to ensure that the Fund is meeting the needs of Vermont’s agricultural community and forestry operations community, the Review Board annually shall review the application process, eligibility criteria, distribution, and accessibility of the Fund. The Review Board annually shall recommend to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Agriculture ways to improve the effectiveness of the Fund.

(e) Officers; committees. The Board may elect officers, establish one or more committees or subcommittees, and adopt such procedural rules as it shall determine necessary and appropriate to perform its work.

(f) Quorum; meetings; voting. A majority of the sitting members shall constitute a quorum, and action taken by the Board may be authorized by a majority of the members present and voting at any regular or special meeting at which a quorum is present. The Board may meet as an advisory body under 1 V.S.A. chapter 5, subchapter 2.

(g) Compensation. Private sector members shall be entitled to per diem compensation authorized under 32 V.S.A. § 1010(b) for each day spent in the performance of their duties, and each member shall be reimbursed from the Fund for the member’s actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the member’s duties.