Soil and Water Conservation Council; powers and duties

(1) COMPOSITION.—(a) The Soil and Water Conservation Council is created in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and shall be composed of 7 members who have been involved in the practice of soil or water conservation, or in the development or implementation of interim measures or best management practices related thereto, and who have been engaged in agriculture or an occupation related to the agricultural industry for at least 5 years at the time of their appointment. (b) All members shall be appointed by the commissioner. (c) Members shall serve 4-year terms or until their successors are duly qualified and appointed. If a vacancy occurs, it shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the manner of an initial appointment. (2) POWERS AND DUTIES; MEETINGS; PROCEDURES; RECORDS.—(a) The meetings, powers and duties, procedures, and recordkeeping of the Soil and Water Conservation Council shall be conducted pursuant to s. 570.232. (b) The council shall accept and review requests for creating or dissolving soil and water conservation districts and shall, by a majority vote, recommend, by resolution, to the commissioner that a district be created or dissolved pursuant to the request, or that the request be denied. (c) When requested by the Governor or a district, the council shall provide a recommendation to the Governor whether to remove a supervisor for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office only after notice, hearing, and thorough review.