PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFT LEGISLATIVE REPORT ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COUNCILS Department of Environment and Natural Resources March 2010 PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFT Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Overview of Boards and Commissions 3 Policy Options 7 Appendix I Detailed Information on Commissions 11 Appendix II Study Authorizing Provision 26 PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFT Executive Summary Background Senate Bill 202, the 2009 Appropriations Act (Session Law 2009-451), requires the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to study the advisability of eliminating or consolidating boards, commissions or councils within the Department. This special provision follows earlier efforts by the General Assembly to evaluate the functioning of boards and commissions. The 2006 Studies Act (S.L. 2006-248) created a special 28 member commission to study the powers and duties, funding and potential consolidation and elimination of boards and commissions throughout state government. However, the study commission on boards and commissions was never appointed and no study was ever conducted. DENR has a number of commissions, boards and councils (hereinafter commissions) under its purview. The majority of these commissions are statutorily created by the General Assembly for a clearly defined purpose. Consequently, ...