This Departmental Regulation serves as the chatter of the Risk Management Advisory Committee (hereinafter the "Committee"), established pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App.) to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with advice concerning risk management issues and policies relating to agriculture (e.g., federal crop insurance and other risk management tools).

The Departmental Regulation shall terminate 2 years from the date of filing, unless terminated earlier or renewed by proper authority and appropriate action.

a The Committee shall be comprised of 20 members chosen to represent the diverse interests of the agricultural community, including but not limited to agricultural producers; the crop insurance industry; grower groups; commodity groups; associations affiliated with, or comprised of users of, the agricultural safety net; Federal, state, and tribal officials; and other interested parties.

b Each member of the Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and shall serve at the Secretary of Agriculture's discretion.

c The Secretary of Agriculture or a person designated by the Secretary of Agriculture shall serve as the Chairperson of the Committee.

d Members shall be selected on the basis of their knowledge and experience with risk management issues, products, and policies relevant to the industry of agriculture and of their ability to represent a particular interest, and may serve a term not to exceed 2 years.

e Equal opportunity practices, in line with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policies, will be followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall, include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstratedability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

f The Administrator of the Risk Management Agency (RMA), USDA, shall designate the Committee's Executive Secretary and Designated Federal Official under Sections 10(e) and 10(f) of the FACA (5 U.S.C. App.).

a The Committee will monitor government, public, mid industry actions and proposals that relate to agricultural risk management issues and evaluate the impact such actions and proposals may have upon the group(s) each member represents.

b The Committee will. monitor the impact of risk management tools upon agriculture and make recommendations, as appropriate, to strengthen the safety net for agriculture through effective risk management tools, policies, and strategies.

a RMA, USDA will provide clerical and other necessary staff support for the Committee. The estimated annual operating cost of the Committee is $60,000 and I staff year.

b Non-government members of the Committee will serve without reimbursement of travel expenses or per them allowances unless such policy would result in failure to achieve adequate representation of necessary or desired groups.

The Committee shall meet at least once annually, or as often as the Secretary of Agriculture deems necessary, either in person or via teleconference. All meetings will be open to the public, Notice of all Committee meetings will be published in the Federal Register at least 15 days, but no more than 45 calendar days prior to the meeting.