(a) Effective July 1, 1988, there is created a State Advisory Committee on Rural Development. The committee shall advise the commissioner of community affairs and Board of Community Affairs on matters related to rural development and the preparation of a biennial rural economic development plan and any other such matters requested by the commissioner of community affairs or Board of Community Affairs. The committee shall consist of no less than 15 and no more than 21 members, composed of elected officials of municipalities, elected officials of counties, members of the General Assembly, and other persons knowledgeable about the community and economic development of rural areas appointed by the Governor. In making appointments to the committee, the Governor shall ensure that members include representatives from throughout rural Georgia.

(b) Members of the committee shall serve terms of office of two years and until their successors are appointed by the commissioner of community affairs and qualified.

(c) The committee at its initial meeting, which meeting shall be called by the commissioner of community affairs promptly after the appointment of its members, shall elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary from among its members. These officers shall serve one-year terms, after which time officers shall again be elected.

(d) The committee shall meet at least twice a year; however, the commissioner of community affairs or the chairman of the committee may call additional special meetings.

(e) Membership on the committee shall not preclude the member from holding other public office. Each member of the committee shall receive the same per diem expense allowance as that received by members of the General Assembly for each day a committee member is in attendance at a meeting of the committee, plus reimbursement for actual transportation costs incurred while traveling by public carrier or the mileage allowance authorized for certain state officials and employees for the use of a personal automobile in connection with such attendance. The above shall be paid in lieu of any other per diem, allowance, or remuneration.

(f) The committee shall adopt, and the Board of Community Affairs shall approve, bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and conduct of its business.