§ 1208.34 - Term of office and compensation.

(a) The term of office for each member or alternate member of the Council shall be three years. As provided in the Act, the initial appointments on the Council shall be as follows: nine of the member appointments shall be for two-year terms, eight of the appointments shall be for three-year terms, and eight of the appointments shall be for four-year terms. Alternate members shall have the same terms of office as their respective members. The term of office on the initial Council shall be apportioned as follows:

(1) One of the two qualified wholesale handler members representing each of Regions 1, 2, 4, and 5 shall serve two-year terms of office; one of the two qualified wholesale handler members representing each of Regions 3, 4, and 6 shall serve three-year terms of office; and one of the two qualified wholesale handler members representing each of Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 shall serve four-year terms of office.

(2) The two qualified wholesale handler members representing the United States at large shall serve terms of office of two years and three years respectively.

(3) The members representing producers that are qualified handlers from Production Areas 1 and 2 shall serve three-year terms of office, and the member representing producers that are qualified handlers from Production Area 3 shall serve a four-year term of office.

(4) The three members representing importers that are qualified handlers shall serve terms of office of two, three, and four years respectively.

(5) The members representing producers that produce cut flowers and greens east and west of the Mississippi River shall each serve two-year terms of office.

(6) The member representing retailers nominated by the AFMC shall serve a two-year term of office. The two members representing retailers not nominated by the AFMC shall serve three-year and four-year terms of office respectively.

(b) No member of the Council may serve more than two consecutive terms of three years, except that any member serving an initial term of four years or two years may serve an additional term of three years.

(c) The term of office for the initial Council shall begin immediately following appointment by the Secretary. Should the term of office of the initial Council begin before January 1, 1995, the time between appointment and January 1, 1995, shall not count towards the initial term of office. Should the term of office of the initial Council begin later than January 1, 1995, all time until the following January will count as a full year toward the terms of office set out in this section. In subsequent years, the term of office shall begin on January 1 or such other period which may be recommended by the Council and approved by the Secretary.

(d) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but each member or alternate member acting in place of a member shall be reimbursed for the expenses incurred in performing duties as a member of the Council.