WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 219

[(3)] (4) (5) The term of membership for each
committee is four years, except that of the original
committeemen, three are to serve a four-year term and two are to
serve a two-year term. Each term begins on March 1.

[(4)] (5) (6) If a vacancy occurs because a member is
unable or unwilling to serve, the Department immediately shall
notify in writing each member of the committee of the vacancy.
The committee shall arrange for a new election to fill the
vacancy. If the vacancy is not filled within 60 days after the
vacancy occurs, the Department shall make the necessary
appointments to fill each vacancy. When committee members are
selected or when any vacancy is filled, the Department shall
notify promptly the members of the General Assembly from the
county of the names of the committee members selected or
appointed to fill a vacancy in that county. An appointment to a
vacancy in an unexpired term is limited to the remainder of the
term.

[(5)] (6) (7) The Department shall prescribe by rule
and regulation the time, place, and manner of selection of the
oyster committees.

[(6)] (7) (8) The Fisheries Administration shall
submit an annual summary of the Fisheries Research and
Development Fund to the committee of oystermen for each county.
The summary shall include an accounting of receipts and
expenditures.

(c)  The Department shall expend any fund appropriated in
the budget for oyster propagation for the planting of oyster
shells, other cultch, or seed oysters on natural oyster bars or
seed areas, or for the purchase of necessary equipment.

(d)  The Department may close without holding a public
hearing any natural oyster bar in the waters of the State with
the approval of the appropriate committee of oystermen.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1988.

Approved May 2, 1988.

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