AGFC POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL - ADMINISTRATION
ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH ADVISORY COUNCIL
AGFC POLICY AD-1-04 | EFFECTIVE 4/20/2023
PURPOSE
To set forth policy and procedures of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC, Commission) for establishing and operating an Arkansas Game and Fish Advisory Council (Advisory Council), having members consisting of invited citizen-volunteers and designated AGFC employees, for the purpose of providing stakeholder-focused advisory assistance to the Commission concerning AGFC programs and other critical matters related to the control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of the wildlife resources of the State of Arkansas.
SCOPE
This policy applies to all activities of the Commission, to all locations of the Commission, to all individuals employed by the Commission, and to all citizen-stakeholders who accept an invitation to serve on the Arkansas Game and Fish Advisory Council.
POLICY
It is the interest of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to establish and operate an Arkansas Game and Fish Advisory Council that shall be composed of volunteer citizen-stakeholders and AGFC employees designated by the Director to facilitate public involvement and recommendations with respect to agency programming. More specifically, the Advisory Council is to help the AGFC determine how it can better serve multiple user groups of Arkansas's wildlife resources, how AGFC can better partner with private industry and other third parties to maximize outdoor opportunity and conservation awareness, and how AGFC can better communicate and advocate for the large and critical mission of wildlife conservation in Arkansas and the challenges it faces. The Advisory Council will not fill a representative function or provide input on agency regulations; rather, its function is to collect information and facilitate the sharing of communication, partnership, advice, and recommendations with AGFC through focused groups of citizen-stakeholders.
AD-1-04-A. ORGANIZATION
1. Advisory Council members shall be selected at the purview of the AGFC Director, based principally upon having a history of demonstrated commitment to the advancement of conservation in Arkansas.2. Ideally, for maximum benefit, the Advisory Council should have diverse membership; nevertheless, invitations for participation ultimately shall be extended to individuals without regard to their race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, or other protected status.3. Advisory Council members and designated AGFC employees will be assigned to one (1), but not more than two (2) subordinate panels identified by the Director. There shall be approximately five (5), but not more than ten (10) panels within the Advisory Council, including but not limited to: the Fishing Panel (FP); the Habitat and Access Panel (HAC); the Hunting Panel (HP); and the Recreational Shooting Panel (RSP). Each panel will be chaired by an Advisory Council citizen-stakeholder member, have at least one designated AGFC employee member, and be composed of end-users, industry representatives, and/or members of conservation associations.4. All members of the Advisory Council and designated AGFC employees shall serve at the pleasure of the Director. Advisory Council members shall be subject to periodic rotation (e.g., terms of two (2) to four (4) years) at the reasonable discretion of the Director, to provide for new member participation.AD-1-04-B. OPERATION
1. Meetings of the Advisory Council shall be open by invitation to council members and designated AGFC employees, plus AGFC Commissioners and/or invited guests only. In the event multiple AGFC Commissioners plan to be in attendance, then such meeting will be announced and conducted as a public meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.2. The full Advisory Council is expected to meet with the Director at least annually. Subordinate panels should meet at least semi-annually, but not more than quarterly.3. The chair of the Advisory Council and the chairs of the subordinate panels shall not schedule any meetings except at the call of, or with the advance approval of, the Director or the designated AGFC employee and with an agenda approved by the Director or such AGFC employee. At least one designated employee of the AGFC shall attend each meeting of a subordinate panel, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Director.4. Following each full Advisory Council and subordinate panel meeting, an accurate summary description of matters discussed and recommendations reached shall be made in meeting notes, which shall be approved by the chair and the designated AGFC employee and then provided to the Director.5. Copies of meeting agenda, reports, working papers, studies, or other documents which were made available to or prepared for or by the full Advisory Council or a subordinate panel shall be retained for a period of at least five (5) years from its creation or effective date.6. Once established, each subordinate panel shall remain operating unless and until terminated in the sole discretion of the Director.7. The Director shall regularly provide oral or written updates to the AGFC Commissioners regarding Advisory Council meeting activities.002.01.23 Ark. Code R. 010
Adopted by Arkansas Register Volume 48, Number 05, Effective 5/1/2023