Section 324.501 - Department of natural resources; creation; powers and duties; commission of natural resources; creation; powers; appointment, qualifications, and terms of members; vacancy; removal; meetings; secretary; chairperson; quorum; conducting business at public meeting; notice; appointment and employment of director; appointment of deputy director, assistants, and employees; powers and duties of persons delegated decision making authority; vacancy in office of director; compensation and expenses; offices and equipment; oath(1) A department of natural resources for this state is created which shall possess the powers and perform the duties granted and imposed by this act and as otherwise provided by law.(2) The commission of natural resources is created as the head of the department of natural resources and may establish general policies related to natural resources management and environmental protection for the guidance of the director. In addition, the commission has appellate authority as provided in section 1101. The commission shall be composed of 7 members, not more than 4 of whom shall be members of the same political party, appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. A member of the commission shall be selected with special reference to that person's training and experience related to at least 1 of the principal lines of activities vested in the department of natural resources and the ability and fitness of that person to deal with those activities. The term of office of each member of the commission shall be 4 years. The governor shall fill a vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission and may remove a member of the commission for cause after a hearing. Each member of the commission shall hold office until the appointment and qualification of that member's successor.(3) The commission, within 30 days after having qualified and annually after that time, shall meet at its office in Lansing and organize by appointing a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. The governor shall appoint a chairperson of the commission from among its members, who shall serve as chairperson at the pleasure of the governor. Four members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The business which the commission may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting shall be given in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976. A meeting may be called by the chairperson and shall be called on request of a majority of the members of the commission. A meeting may be held as often as necessary and at other places than the commissioners' offices at Lansing. The commission shall meet at least once each month.(4) The commission shall appoint and employ a director who shall continue in office at the pleasure of the commission. The director shall appoint 1 or more deputy directors and other assistants and employees as are necessary to implement this part and any other law of this state affecting the powers and duties of the department of natural resources. A person to whom the director has lawfully delegated decision making authority in writing may perform a duty or exercise a power conferred by law upon the department at the time and to the extent the duty and power is delegated to that person by the director. When a vacancy in the office of director occurs, or the director is unable to perform the director's duties or is absent from the state, the powers and duties of the director as prescribed by law shall be imposed on and transferred to a deputy director until the vacancy is filled or the director's inability or absence from the state ceases.(5) The compensation of the deputy directors, the assistants, and the employees and the number of assistants and employees shall be subject to the approval of the state administrative board. The members of the commission shall not receive compensation under this part, but each member and the other officers and employees of the department of natural resources shall be entitled to reasonable expenses while traveling in the performance of their duties prescribed by this act. The salaries and expenses authorized under this act shall be paid out of the state treasury in the same manner as the salaries of other state officers and employees are paid. The department of management and budget shall furnish suitable offices and office equipment, at Lansing, for the use of the department of natural resources. Each member of the commission and the director shall qualify by taking and subscribing to the constitutional oath of office and by filing it in the office of the secretary of state.1994, Act 451, Eff. 3/30/1995.