74-99d03. Creation of authority; board of directors. (a) There is hereby created a body politic and corporate to be known as the Kansas electric transmission authority. The authority is hereby constituted a public instrumentality and the exercise by the authority of the powers conferred by this act in the construction, operation and maintenance of electric transmission projects shall be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential governmental function.

(b) (1) The authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of seven members.

(2) Three members shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate as provided by K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto. Except as provided by K.S.A. 46-2601, and amendments thereto, no person appointed to the board shall exercise any power, duty or function as a member of the board until confirmed by the senate. The terms of members first appointed to the board shall be as follows: One shall be appointed for terms expiring the second March 15 following appointment, one for a term expiring the third March 15 following appointment and one for terms expiring the fourth March 15 following appointment.  Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and confirmed. All persons appointed by the governor and serving as members shall be qualified voters of the state of Kansas with special knowledge, as evidenced by college degrees or courses, or with at least five years' experience in managerial positions, in the field of electric transmission or generation development. Not more than two of the members appointed by the governor shall be members of the same political party. A person appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy on the board shall be appointed to serve for the unexpired term. A member appointed to the board by the governor shall be eligible for reappointment. A member of the board appointed by the governor may be removed by the governor for misfeasance, malfeasance or willful neglect of duty, but only after reasonable notice and a public hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act.

(3) The following shall be ex officio of the board: The chairperson and ranking minority member of the senate standing committee on utilities or its successor and the chairperson and ranking minority member of the house standing committee on utilities or its successor. Members ex officio shall be entitled to vote and participate as full members of the board.

(c) Each member of the board, before entering upon the member's duties, shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation as required by law.

(d) Members of the board attending meetings of the board, or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by the board, shall be paid compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2005, ch. 169, § 3; Apr. 21.