The appointment and term of service of the secretary of natural resources and vacancies on the Natural Resources Board

The bill also provides that, when the office of secretary becomes vacant, the new appointee will serve a full four-year term beginning when he or she is appointed.

Under current law, when an appointive state office that has a specific term becomes vacant, the new appointee is appointed for the rest of the unexpired term.

The Natural Resources Board consists of seven members nominated by the governor and appointed with the advice and consent of the senate for six-year terms.

This bill provides that a board member's position becomes vacant upon the expiration of the member's term, which would allow the governor to provisionally fill the vacancy until the senate acts on the appointment. This change first applies to a position held by a board member nominated after January 1, 2018. Under current law, a member of the Natural Resources Board whose term has expired may continue to serve after the expiration of his or her term until a successor is nominated by the governor and the senate consents to the nomination.