Section 41-7-3 Advisory Board.

(a) There is established the Advisory Board to the Alabama Tourism Department to advise and assist the director. The board shall be composed of 25 members who shall be appointed as follows: (1) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three individuals for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor by the Alabama Travel Council, or its successor organization. (2) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three individuals for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor by the Alabama Hospitality Association, or its successor organization. (3) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three individuals for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor by the Alabama Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, or its successor organization. (4) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three individuals for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor from the Alabama Restaurant Association, or its successor organization. (5) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three individuals for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System who shall be representatives of the private sector rural tourism industry. (6) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three individuals for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor from the Economic Development Association of Alabama, or its successor organization. (7) Three members appointed by the Governor who are not current full-time public officials or public employees, but who are representatives of the private sector of the tourism industry in Alabama. (8) The Director of the Alabama State Parks who shall serve as an ex officio member. (9) The Director of the Alabama Historical Commission who shall serve as an ex officio member. (10) The Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts who shall serve as an ex officio member. (11) The Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service who shall serve as an ex officio member. (12) The Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety who shall serve as an ex officio member. (13) The Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation who shall serve as an ex officio member. (14) The Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, the Chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, and the ranking minority member of each committee, or their designees. (b) Ex officio members of the board shall be voting members, but shall serve as a member of the board only as long as the ex officio member holds his or her respective office. Each member not serving in an ex officio capacity shall be appointed to a six-year term except for the initial appointments of one of the members for each of the positions designated in subsection (a), subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, which shall be appointed to initial three-year terms. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies which occur other than by expiration of the term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. (c) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members. (d) The director shall be a nonvoting member of the board. (e) Members of the board shall be residents of the State of Alabama, and to the extent possible, appointments to the board shall be made from all geographic regions of the State of Alabama in order to promote economic diversity from throughout the state. Appointments to the board shall include Black and other minority representation, and to the extent possible, the appointments shall reflect the percentage of minority population of the state and the gender and urban and rural diversity of the state. Those members of the board not serving in an ex officio capacity shall be actively employed in the tourism industry throughout the term of their appointment, and if the member ceases to be so employed, that individual shall immediately cease to be a member of the board, and the appointing authority shall promptly appoint a new member in the manner consistent with the initial appointment procedure to fill the remainder of the term. (f) All members shall be notified in writing of the time and place of any regular or special meeting. Any member who misses four consecutive regularly scheduled meetings shall immediately cease to be a member of the board, and the appointing authority shall promptly appoint a new member in the manner consistent with the initial appointment procedure to fill the remainder of the term. Such meeting requirements shall not apply to the director nor to ex officio members. (g) The board shall meet at least quarterly, and shall perform the following duties: (1) Serve as a body to advise the director and private persons on the development and implementation of state policies and programs relating to tourism and recreation and to assist in the coordination of these activities. (2) Adopt bylaws, elect officers, including a chairperson, and establish procedures for its operation. (3) Advise and review marketing and annual advertising plans developed by the department. The comprehensive marketing plan shall be directed toward the accomplishment of at least the following purposes: a. Maximizing the return on public and private investment and tourism. b. Encouraging longer stays by visitors to Alabama. c. Assisting local entities in attracting conferences and conventions. d. Reducing season fluctuations in travel and tourist related industries. e. Encouraging visitors to be destination oriented in this state. f. Encouraging visitors from foreign countries to visit Alabama. g. Encouraging Alabamians to vacation in Alabama. (h) Seek and review the views of all levels of government and the private sector with respect to state programs and policies for the promotion and assistance of tourism. (i) Cooperate and provide expertise for communities and tourism marketing associations in the development and promotion of their tourism attractions and businesses. (j) Establish working committees to advise the department with specific areas of operation including marketing, advertising, regional issues, administration of grant and co-op programs, and product and service development.