The bill amends the structure and composition of the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) by reducing its membership from ten to seven members. The new council will consist of six public members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, and one ex officio member who will be the director of the Department of Environmental Management. All appointed members must possess background, qualifications, and expertise in environmental and coastal management, including specific qualifications such as being an engineer, a coastal biologist, and a representative from an environmental organization. Current members' terms will expire on March 1, 2026, at which point the new council will be established.

The bill outlines the appointment process and term limits for council members, specifying that the governor will determine initial terms of one, two, or three years for the new appointees. After the initial terms, succeeding appointments will be for a term of three years. The bill also includes provisions for filling vacancies and states that elected or appointed municipal officials shall hold seats on the council only as long as they remain in their elected or appointed office.

Additionally, the bill mandates that within thirty business days of its passage, the council shall post for notice and comment revisions of its coastal resources management program and management procedures to implement the changes. Within fourteen days of promulgation of the revised program, the council is required to submit a coastal zone management act program change request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for approval of the amendments. The bill repeals a previous section regarding representation from coastal communities and introduces a new section outlining the effective date and implementation procedures for the changes.

Statutes affected:
998: 46-23-12
998  SUB A: 46-23-12