A. The Arizona department of homeland security regional advisory councils are established.

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B. The department shall ensure reasonable distribution of area representation. A total of five councils are established as follows:

1. The north region is composed of the jurisdictions contained in the Coconino, Navajo and Apache county boundaries.

2. The east region is composed of the jurisdictions contained in the Graham, Greenlee, Gila and Pinal county boundaries.

3. The south region is composed of the jurisdictions contained in the Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise and Yuma county boundaries.

4. The west region is composed of the jurisdictions contained in the Mohave, La Paz and Yavapai county boundaries.

5. The central region is composed of the jurisdictions contained in the Maricopa county boundaries.

C. Each regional advisory council consists of twelve members who serve for a term of three years. Members shall reside or work in the region they represent, except for the representative from the department of public safety. For the purposes of limiting the membership in a county, the representative from the department of public safety and the tribal representative do not count toward the membership limit from a county.

D. The governor shall appoint each member of a regional advisory council. The membership of the councils consists of:

1. A representative of a fire service from an urban or suburban area in the region.

2. A representative of a fire service from a rural area in the region.

3. A police chief.

4. A county sheriff or the sheriff’s proxy.

5. A tribal representative.

6. An emergency manager.

7. Four at-large members.

8. A representative from the department of public safety.

9. A public health representative.

E. A member must have a background in or experience with disaster response or law enforcement issues.

F. Subject to approval by the director or deputy director, within a reasonable time frame before the meeting, members may be represented on the council by a person designated by that member to serve as the member’s proxy. The proxy must have a background in or experience with disaster response or law enforcement issues.

G. At the first meeting held after July 1 of each year, each regional advisory council shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson.

H. Each regional advisory council shall meet on an as-needed basis to conduct business. No actions may be taken without a quorum present.

I. It is the duty of each regional advisory council member to maintain communication with and represent other offices and organizations within the members’ professional discipline in the region.

J. In coordination with the department, the regional advisory council shall:

1. Support and assist in implementing Arizona’s comprehensive statewide risk assessment.

2. Support and assist an integrated regional approach to homeland security in this state.

3. Encourage baseline prevention and response capabilities throughout the region consistent with state and regional plans.

4. Develop a list of recommendations for state homeland security grant program monies and forward these recommendations to the director.

5. Recommend allocation of state homeland security grant program monies to eligible jurisdictions and other organizations based on regional, state and federal criteria.

K. Members are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Title 38, Chapter 4, article 2.

L. Elected officials shall serve on the council in their capacity as elected officials. If an elected official is no longer in office that position on the regional advisory council shall be considered vacant and a new appointment shall be made.