(a) Membership. – The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority shall consist of nine members. The members shall include persons who are knowledgeable about park and recreation issues in North Carolina or with expertise in finance. In making appointments, each appointing authority shall specify under which subdivision of this subsection the person is appointed. Members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) One member appointed by the Governor.

(2) One member appointed by the Governor.

(3) One member appointed by the Governor.

(4) One member appointed by the Governor.

(5) One member appointed by the Governor.

(6) One member appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121

(7) One member appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121

(8) One member appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121

(9) One member appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121

(b) Terms. – Members shall serve staggered terms of office of three years. Members shall serve no more than two consecutive three-year terms. After serving two consecutive three-year terms, a member is not eligible for appointment to the Authority for at least one year after the expiration date of that member’s most recent term. Upon the expiration of a three-year term, a member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed and duly qualified as provided by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 128-7 The terms of members appointed under subdivisions (1), (6), and (8) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire on July 1 of years that are evenly divisible by three, with the initial appointments expiring July 1, 2022. The terms of members appointed under subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire on July 1 of years that follow by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three, with the initial appointments expiring July 1, 2020. The terms of members appointed under subdivisions (5), (7), and (9) of subsection (a) of this section shall expire on July 1 of years that precede by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three, with the initial appointments expiring July 1, 2021.

(c) Chair. – The Governor shall appoint one member of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority to serve as Chair.

(d) Vacancies. – A vacancy on the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority shall be filled by the appointing authority responsible for making the appointment to that position as provided in subsection (a) of this section. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired balance of the term.

(e) Removal. – The Governor may remove, as provided in Article 10 of Chapter 143C of the N.C. Gen. Stat. any member of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority appointed by the Governor for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance. The General Assembly may remove any member of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority appointed by the General Assembly for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance.

(f) Compensation. – The members of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses according to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-5

(g) Meetings. – The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority shall meet at least quarterly at a time and place designated by the Chair.

(h) Quorum. – A majority of the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(i) Staff. – All clerical and other services required by the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority shall be provided by the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources. (1995, c. 456, s. 1; 1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 15, s. 16.1; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 1997-496, s. 10; 2001-424, s. 19.3(a); 2006-203, s. 105; 2007-437, s. 2; 2013-360, s. 14.5(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(h), (o); 2019-32, s. 2.)