Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§2-G is enacted to read:

2-G. Maine Rural Not 7 MRSA

Agriculture DevelopmentAuthorized §152

Board

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA c. 6 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 6

MAINE RURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

§151.__Maine Rural Development Council

The Maine Rural Development Council is a statewide association of federal, state, regional and community-based organizations active in rural development work.__Membership is open to representatives of federal, state, county and municipal agencies and tribal governments, regional development organizations, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations and individuals interested or engaged in rural development.

§152.__Maine Rural Development Board

1.__Board establishment; authority.__The Maine Rural Development Board, referred to in this chapter as "the board," established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 2-G is the governing body of the Maine Rural Development Council.__The board is authorized to participate on behalf of the State in the National Rural Development Partnership established in 7 United States Code 1981 and continued by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, Public Law 107-171, 116 Stat. 205.

2.__Board members.__Board members serve 2-year terms and are elected from the Maine Rural Development Council membership as follows:

A.__Five members representing federal agencies;

B.__Five members representing state agencies;

C.__One member representing a regional economic development organization;

D.__One member representing county government;

E.__Two members representing municipal government;