The provision sets how STEM Council members are appointed, how vacancies are filled, how long they serve, and that they serve without pay except approved expense reimbursement.
(a) The membership of the STEM Council shall consist of all of the following: (1) Two members appointed by the Governor with expertise in STEM education or workforce development. (2) Two members appointed by the Secretary of Workforce with expertise in workforce development. (3) The following public officials or their designees: a. The Chair of the Alabama Workforce Board. b. The Secretary of Commerce. c. The Secretary of Early Childhood Education. d. The State Superintendent of Education. e. The Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System. f. The Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. (4) One member appointed by the Governor from each of the state’s workforce regions. (5) Additional members appointed by the Governor and Secretary of Workforce as representatives of the state’s STEM stakeholders, including STEM industry representatives, formal STEM education organizations, and informal STEM education organizations. (b) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments to assure the council membership is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state. (c) STEM Council members shall serve until their successors are appointed. A vacancy shall be filled in the manner provide for the original appointment. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy on the council shall serve only for the remaining unexpired portion of the term. (d) Each council member shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority for a four-year renewable term. (e) Members of the STEM Council shall serve without compensation except for reimbursement for reasonable travel and other expenses actually incurred as an incident to their service on the council as approved by the Chair of the STEM Council. Expenses shall be paid using any funds appropriated for use by the council in the same manner as is provided by law for state officers and employees.