Section 830. Downstate New York tourism council

1. The downstate New York
  tourism council is hereby created within the executive  department.  The
  downstate  council  shall  consist  of  a  total  of nine voting members
  appointed by the governor; one each from the  three  downstate  economic
  development  districts,  as  established  by  the department of economic
  development,  provided  however,  that  the  representative   from   the
  Mid-Hudson  district  shall  be  a resident within the boundaries of the
  metropolitan commuter transportation district; one from the city of  New
  York;  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 downstate 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 downstate 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, three 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
  three  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  downstate  council,  unless
  excused by formal vote of the downstate council, shall be deemed to have
  vacated  his or her position. Any vacancy in the downstate council shall
  be filled for the unexpired term in the  same  manner  as  the  original
  appointment.  A  majority of the voting members of the downstate council
  then in office shall constitute a quorum  for  the  transaction  of  any
  business  or  the  exercise  of  any  power or function of the downstate
  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  downstate
  council.  The  members  of  the  downstate  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 downstate 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  downstate  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 downstate council in carrying out the provisions of this article.
    4. Every local agency with programs relating to the downstate New York
  region may offer assistance to the downstate council in carrying out the
  provisions of this article.