§ 2922. Vermont Milk Commission; membership
There shall be a Vermont Milk Commission, to consist of nine members, one member of
which shall be the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The Secretary shall
be Chair of the Commission and serve without compensation. A quorum shall be a majority
of the Commission. The Commission shall act only by an affirmative vote of at least
six members. The remaining Commission members shall serve for terms of three years,
except for the legislative members who shall serve for the term of their election,
and be chosen as follows:
(1) Each dairy farmer cooperative, and each proprietary handler purchasing milk from independent
farmers, doing business in the State and registered with the Secretary of State’s
office shall submit the name of a Vermont dairy farmer with knowledge of the production
and marketing of dairy products to the Vermont Dairy Industry Association. The Board
of Directors of the Association shall submit the names of four of these persons to
the Governor, who shall appoint two Commission members from the list submitted. The
initial appointment of one of these members shall be for a term of two years.
(2) Each milk handler doing business in the State and registered with the Secretary of
State’s office shall submit the name of one such handler with knowledge and experience
in the marketing of dairy products to the Vermont Dairy Industry Association. The
Board of Directors of the Association shall submit three names to the Governor, who
shall choose one Commission member from the list provided. In compiling the lists
under subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section, the Board shall consider whether the
persons chosen sell their milk to or are handlers who purchase a substantial percentage
of their milk from Vermont producers and utilize the milk purchased in the most advantageous
manner possible.
(3) Two members representing milk consumers and having no pecuniary interest in the sale
of milk or milk products shall be chosen by the Governor. The initial appointment
of one of these members shall be for a term of one year.
(4) One dairy farmer, chosen directly by the Governor, who does not serve on the Board
of Directors of any organization that handles or processes dairy products, nor is
an officer of any organized farm organization in the State.
(5) One member from the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
chosen by the Speaker and one member from the Senate Committee on Agriculture chosen
by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. For attendance at a meeting when the General
Assembly is not in session, these two legislative members shall be entitled to the
same per diem compensation and reimbursement of necessary expenses as provided members
of standing committees under 2 V.S.A. § 23. (Added 1965, No. 175, § 40; amended 1991, No. 17, § 3; 1993, No. 127 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2007, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 20, 2008.)