There is in the state government the California Cattle Council that consists of 11 members and 11 alternates appointed by the secretary, each of whom shall be a producer in this state who is a range cattle producer, cattle feeder, dairy producer, or processor, with the exception of the public member who shall be a resident of this state. The secretary shall appoint members and alternates to the council to reflect the diversity of California’s cattle industry, including women- and minority-owned businesses, varying beef and dairy products, and cattle producers varying in size from small to large based on the total number of animals raised, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 65001.

The secretary or the secretary’s designee shall serve as an ex officio member.

secretary shall use the same formula described in subdivisions (a) and (b) in the appointment of alternates.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the public member and the public member’s alternate shall have all the powers, rights, and privileges of any other member or alternate, respectively, on the council, except that the public member or the public member’s alternate shall not have a vote on issues regarding the assessment established pursuant to Section 65071.

then serve two terms as a member, and a member who was appointed for a one-year or two-year term may serve two additional three-year terms.

Six members of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business, including the election of officers.

Members of the council shall be reimbursed for necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

An alternate member of the council shall sit as a regular member of the council if the regular member fails for any reason to attend any meeting of the council. An alternate member shall be compensated and reimbursed in the same manner and to the same extent as a regular member when serving and has all the powers, duties, liabilities, and immunities of the member in whose place he or she is serving, except that the alternate to the chairperson or vice chairperson shall not succeed to the functions of these offices or sit as a regular member on the executive committee.

The secretary or the secretary’s representative shall be notified and may attend each meeting of the council.

No member or alternate of the council shall receive a salary.

All funds received by any person from the assessments levied under this chapter or otherwise received by the council shall be deposited in banks designated by the council and shall be disbursed by order of the council through an agent or agents as it may designate for that purpose. A private agent or agents, other than the department, shall be bonded by a fidelity bond, executed by a surety company authorized to transact business in this state, in favor of the council, in an amount of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

The state is not liable for the acts of the council or its contracts. Payments of all claims arising by reason of the administration of this chapter or acts of the council are limited to the funds collected by the council. No member or alternate of the council, or any employee or agent thereof, is personally liable for the contracts of the council. No member or alternate of the council, or any employee or agent thereof, is responsible individually in any way to any other person for errors in judgment, mistakes, or other acts, either of council or omission, as principal, agent, or employee, except for his or her own individual acts of dishonesty or crime. No member or alternate of the council, or any employee or agent thereof, is responsible individually for any act or omission of any other member or alternate of the council, or

any employee or agent thereof. No member or alternate of the council, or any employee or agent thereof, is liable for the default of any other member or alternate of the council, or any employee or agent thereof.

The council may enter into contracts. Copies of its proceedings, records, and acts, when authenticated, shall be admissible in evidence in all courts of the state and shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of all statements therein.