This section creates the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force and requires it to develop a 10-year restoration plan, meet regularly, report its progress, and receive staff support from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
(a) The Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force is established to lead and expedite formulating, testing, and developing innovative, effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally sustainable technologies to restore coastal seagrass ecosystems by building upon research and efforts within the public and private sectors. (b) The task force shall consist of the following members: (1) The executive director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to serve as a co-chair. (2) The President of the University of South Alabama, or his or her designee, to serve as a co-chair. (3) The Chair of the House of Representatives Ports, Waterways, and Intermodal Transit Committee. (4) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, or his or her designee who has expertise in seagrass ecosystems. (5) The Director of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. (6) A member from a private commercial enterprise appointed by the Governor. (7) A member from a public or private university in this state other than the University of South Alabama appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. (8) Two members from a non-university public or private marine environmental organization with one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. (9) A member appointed by the Mobile County Commission. (10) A member appointed by the Baldwin County Commission. (c) The task force shall develop a 10-year Alabama Seagrass and Sea Oats Restoration Plan to recommend the tools, approaches, and technologies developed pursuant to this article. (d) If a vacancy occurs for any appointed member, the respective appointing authority shall appoint a new member. (e) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments to assure the task force membership is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of this state. (f)(1) The legislative members of the task force shall be entitled to their legislative compensation, per diem, and travel expenses for each day they attend a meeting of the task force pursuant to Section 49 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022. (2) The nonlegislative members of the task force shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses in attending meetings of the task force pursuant to the policies of their respective appointing authority. (g) The initial meeting of the task force shall be called by the co-chair and shall be held by January 1, 2027. Thereafter the task force shall meet no less than twice per year. (h) The Dauphin Island Sea Lab shall provide all necessary staff and support, including meeting space, to the task force for the performance of its duties. (i) Not later than the first day of each regular session of the Legislature, the task force shall provide a report of its progress made in developing and administering the 10-year Alabama Seagrass and Sea Oats Restoration Plan and its findings, conclusions, accomplishments, priorities for subsequent years, and recommendations for proposed legislation, if any, to the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources.