828 - Upstate New York tourism council.
§ 828. Upstate New York tourism council. 1. The upstate New York tourism council is hereby created within the executive department. The upstate council shall consist of a total of thirteen voting members appointed by the governor; one each from the eight upstate economic development regions as established by the department of economic development pursuant to section two hundred thirty of the economic development law; two upon recommendation of the temporary president of the senate; two upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly; and one member appointed by the governor to serve as chairperson. The following nine members shall be ex officio members: the secretary of state, the commissioners of environmental conservation, general services, transportation, agriculture and markets, economic development and parks, recreation and historic preservation, the director of the state office for the aging, and the state advocate for the disabled. In appointing the members of the upstate council, the governor shall seek to ensure that such members include representatives of tourist and consumer groups and organizations of tourism-related industries in the state including, but not limited to, travel and vacation businesses, convention bureaus, cultural institutions, theme parks and attractions, hotels and motels, restaurants, water-based recreation businesses, campgrounds, ski facilities, wineries, halls of fame, travel agents and transportation companies. Members of the upstate council, except the secretary of state, the director of the state office for the aging and commissioners of a state agency, shall serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed; however, of those members appointed initially, five such members (including one appointed upon recommendation of the temporary president of the senate and one appointed upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly) shall be appointed for terms of two years, and five such members (including one appointed upon recommendation of the temporary president of the senate and one appointed upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly) shall be appointed for terms of three years. Any member, except a member who is a state official, who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the council, unless excused by formal vote of the upstate council, shall be deemed to have vacated his or her position. Any vacancy in the upstate council shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. A majority of the voting members of the upstate council then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power or function of the upstate council. An act, determination or decision of the majority of the members present and entitled to vote during the presence of a quorum shall be held to be the act, determination or decision of the upstate council. The members of the upstate council shall serve without compensation, except that members shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this article. 2. The upstate council shall meet at least once every four months, at the call of the chairperson and shall encourage attendance at such meetings by representatives from tourist and tourism groups and other interested parties. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson and shall be called by the chairperson at the request of a majority of the members of the upstate council then in office. Copies of the minutes of each meeting with the date of the next scheduled meeting shall be made available to interested parties at their request. 3. Every state agency and public corporation having jurisdiction over programs relating to the purposes and goals of this article shall, to the fullest extent practicable, offer full cooperation and assistance to the upstate council in carrying out the provisions of this article.4. Every local agency with programs relating to the upstate New York region may offer assistance to the upstate council in carrying out the provisions of this article.