Membership, terms; travel expenses; staff.

(1) The commission shall be composed of nine members. Five of these members shall be appointed by the Governor, no more than three of whom shall be from the same political party, subject to confirmation by the Senate. One member appointed by the Governor shall be a former city or county official and may be a former member of a local planning or zoning board which has only advisory duties. Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and two members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate. Neither the Speaker of the House of Representatives nor the President of the Senate shall appoint more than one member from the same political party. Of the nine members of the Commission, no more than five members shall be from the same political party at any one time. A member may not hold any public employment. An individual who qualifies as a lobbyist pursuant to s. 11.045 or s. 112.3215 or pursuant to any local government charter or ordinance may not serve as a member of the commission. A member of the commission may not lobby any state or local governmental entity as provided in s. 11.045 or s. 112.3215 or as provided by any local government charter or ordinance. All members shall serve 2-year terms. A member may not serve more than two full terms. Any member of the commission may be removed for cause by majority vote of the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

(2) The members of the commission shall elect a chair from their number, who shall serve for a 1-year term and may not succeed himself or herself as chair.

(3) Members of the commission shall receive no salary but shall receive travel and per diem as provided in s. 112.061.

(4) In accordance with the uniform personnel, job classification, and pay plan adopted with the approval of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and administered by the Office of Legislative Services, the commission shall employ an executive director and shall provide the executive director with necessary office space, assistants, and secretaries. Within the above uniform plan, decisions relating to hiring, promotion, demotion, and termination of commission employees shall be made by the commission or, if so delegated by the commission, by its executive director.