Section 7527 - The Advisory Council on Environmental Education(a) Duties.--There is hereby created an Advisory Council on Environmental Education within the Department of Education. The advisory council shall: (1) Make recommendations to the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Environmental Protection with respect to the use of any funds used to support environmental education activities.(2) Advise and assist the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Environmental Protection in carrying out environmental education activities.(3) Advise and assist the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Environmental Protection in conducting a continual evaluation of the trends and needs in environmental education.(4) Make recommendations to the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Secretary of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education Board to help foster environmental education programs.(5) Make recommendations to the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Secretary of Environmental Protection on the distribution of available grant moneys.(b) Composition.--Council membership shall consist of 16 members as follows: (1) the Secretary of Education or his designee;(2) the Secretary of Environmental Protection or his designee;(2.1) the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources or his designee;(3) the Secretary of Agriculture or his designee; and(4) twelve members appointed as follows:(i) Three members representing Statewide or regional environmental organizations appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Protection.(ii) Two members representing Statewide or regional business, industry or landowners' organizations appointed by the Secretary of Community and Economic Development.(iii) Three members representing basic education appointed by the Secretary of Education, one of which is a vocational agricultural teacher appointed by the Secretary of Education.(iv) One member representing higher education appointed by the Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education.(v) One member representing a Statewide or regional general agricultural organization appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.(vi) Two members representing conservation and natural resource interests appointed by the Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources.(c) Appointment, terms and expenses.--The 12 council members shall be appointed for five-year terms. The initial term of four of the council members shall be for one year, the initial term of four members shall be for three years, and the initial term of the remainder shall be for five years. A member may be appointed for more than one term and shall serve until a successor has been appointed. Members shall not be compensated but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses in accordance with the rules of the Executive Board.(d) Officers and bylaws.--The council shall convene at least semiannually, shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson to serve a one-year term and shall adopt bylaws for governing its operations.(e) Staff.--The Secretary of Education shall designate such staff as may be necessary for the operation of the council.1993, June 22, P.L. 105, No. 24, §7, imd. effective. Amended 2008, July 9, P.L. 940, No. 71, § 3, imd. effective.