370.026  Marine Fisheries Commission.--

(1)  There is created within the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund a Marine Fisheries Commission which shall be composed of seven members who have resided in the state for at least 5 years. The seven members shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall be exempt from the Career Service System. The Governor shall consider affected interests when making appointments to the commission. No single interest group shall dominate the membership of the commission. All appointments shall be for 4-year terms. If a vacancy occurs, a member shall be appointed by the Governor for the unexpired term. A commission member whose term has expired shall continue sitting on the commission with full rights until he or she has been replaced.

(2)  Immediately upon being appointed, the commission is authorized to employ a director and three additional persons all of whom shall be exempt from the Career Service System. Within a reasonable time after being appointed, the commission shall schedule meetings to carry out the purposes of ss. 1-9, chapter 83-134, Laws of Florida.

(3)  Members of the commission shall be paid $50 per day while engaged in the business of the commission and shall receive expenses and per diem for travel, including attendance at meetings, as are allowed state officers and employees pursuant to s. 112.061.

(4)  The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the department staff after it has been approved by the commission, but it shall be transmitted to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund as head of the department for submission to the Governor in the exercise of his or her constitutional duties.

(5)  Each state agency is directed to cooperate fully with the commission.