Section 2-7A-1 Establishment of Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation; Operation of Alabama Farm Center.
AI-assisted research summary: This provision creates a single Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation to run the Alabama Farm Center, sets up its board and appointments, and limits who may serve or have conflicting interests.
(a) A singular Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation may be established and created by any number of individuals associated with an agricultural membership advocacy organization filing articles of incorporation in the office of the judge of probate of the county in which the Alabama Farm Center is located. Upon filing articles of incorporation pursuant to this subsection in the office of the judge of probate of the county in which the singular Alabama Farm Center is located, no other corporation may be incorporated pursuant to this subsection. After the initial filing of articles of incorporation pursuant to this subsection, any subsequent filing of articles of incorporation pursuant to this subsection in any other location shall be considered void. (b) The Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation shall operate the Alabama Farm Center for the purposes of promoting, showcasing, and facilitating education regarding all facets of the agricultural industry and advancing agricultural business and workforce development in this state. (c) The Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation shall be governed by, and all powers of the corporation shall be exercised by, pursuant to the corporation’s authorization, a board of directors composed of the following members, subject to confirmation by the Senate: (1) One member appointed by the Governor, who shall serve an initial term of four years. (2) One member appointed by the Governor who shall be nominated jointly by the House Minority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader, who shall serve an initial term of three years. (3) One member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve an initial term of three years. (4) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall have livestock experience, who shall serve an initial term of two years. (5) One member appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from a list of nominees submitted by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the Alabama Farmers Federation, or the Southeastern Livestock Exhibition, who shall serve an initial term of one year. These nominating organizations may coordinate their nomination list or may submit nomination lists individually. (6) One member appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from a list of not less than four nominees submitted by the Dean of Agriculture of either Tuskegee University or Alabama A&M University, who shall serve an initial term of two years. (7) One member appointed by the county commission of the county in which the Alabama Farm Center is located who shall be a farmer and resident of that county, who shall serve an initial term of four years. (d) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments to assure that the membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state. (e) After the initial terms, each member shall serve a term of four years. (f) The board shall elect a chair, who shall be a farmer or an individual with livestock experience, and a secretary from among its membership. (g) Any vacancy on the board shall be filled by the respective appointing authority. Any member may be removed for cause upon a majority vote by all other members. (h) No member may have an interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract for work, materials, or services, or profits therefrom, to be performed under the authority conferred by this chapter if the member, directly or indirectly, has more than a 10 percent interest in any business, firm, corporation, or profits thereof, furnishing or providing the work, materials, or services. (i) The board may appoint an advisory council consisting of not more than 10 members to advise the board. Advisory council members shall serve two-year terms and may be appointed to additional terms by the board. (j) No public official or candidate for public office shall be eligible for appointment to or service on the board.