(1)An interagency working group is hereby created to advise the department of agriculture on issues and policies in support of the department of agriculture’s administration of the rural economic development and integrated freight transportation program established in section 49-2901, Idaho Code. The interagency working group shall participate in planning and identifying program needs and shall carry out its duties specified in section 49-2903, Idaho Code. Before recommending state funding, using state dedicated funds, and recommending priorities, the interagency working group shall seek pertinent information, facts and data from state and local governments, and agencies regarding rural freight transportation issues.
(2)The interagency working group shall be composed of eight (8) members
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(1) An interagency working group is hereby created to advise the department of agriculture on issues and policies in support of the department of agriculture’s administration of the rural economic development and integrated freight transportation program established in section 49-2901, Idaho Code. The interagency working group shall participate in planning and identifying program needs and shall carry out its duties specified in section 49-2903, Idaho Code. Before recommending state funding, using state dedicated funds, and recommending priorities, the interagency working group shall seek pertinent information, facts and data from state and local governments, and agencies regarding rural freight transportation issues.
(2) The interagency working group shall be composed of eight (8) members:
(a) Four (4) members shall be appointed by the director of the Idaho transportation department, two (2) of whom shall be employees of the Idaho transportation department with a working knowledge of rail and truck freight transportation and intermodal entities, one (1) member, not a state employee, shall represent freight shipping interests, and one (1) member shall be a representative from the local highway technical assistance council;
(b) Three (3) members shall be appointed by the director of the department of agriculture, two (2) of whom shall be employees of the department of agriculture with a working knowledge of economic development issues, and one (1) member, not a state employee, shall represent business development and financing interests; and
(c) One (1) member shall be appointed by the director of the department of commerce and shall be an employee with knowledge of rural economic development issues.
(d) At the beginning of each state fiscal year, the director of the Idaho transportation department shall designate one (1) of his appointees as cochairman, and the director of the department of agriculture shall designate one (1) of his appointees as cochairman.
(e) Each member appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority, provided however, the service of state employee members shall run concurrently with their state employment. Nonstate employee members shall serve one (1) term of five (5) years, but may be appointed to serve nonconsecutive terms, and shall be reimbursed according to the provisions of section 59-509 (b), Idaho Code.
(f) The interagency working group shall meet at such times as necessary and appropriate to review applications for funds distributed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, but not less frequently than annually.
(3) The department of agriculture shall determine and provide for amounts appropriated to the fund, from interest only an annual amount not to exceed three percent (3%) of total assets for planning and operating expenses and staff assistance and support from the department of agriculture and the Idaho transportation department in order to administer the program, and to administer the fund established in section 49-2904, Idaho Code.