(a) There shall be, within the Department of Consumer Protection, a Home Inspection Licensing Board.

(b) The board shall consist of eight members, to be appointed by the Governor not later than six months after July 1, 2000. The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from among the members of the board. Each member shall be, at the time of appointment, a resident of the state of Connecticut. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, five of the members shall be home inspectors licensed under § 20-492a or subsection (b) of § 20-492b, who have been engaged in home inspection in this state for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment. Three of the members shall be public members who are owners and residents of a residential building.

(c) For a period of eighteen months from July 1, 2000, the five home inspectors initially appointed as members of the board shall not be required, at the time of their first appointment, to be home inspectors licensed under § 20-492a or subsection (b) of § 20-492b, provided such home inspectors meet or exceed the requirements of subdivisions (1), (2) and (5) of subsection (a) of § 20-492b and provided further, each such home inspector has: (1) Been engaged in home inspection for not less than five years prior to July 1, 2000; and (2) performed not less than five hundred home inspections for compensation or other valuable consideration.

(d) Not later than thirty days after all members have been appointed to the board, and annually thereafter, the board shall meet for the purpose of organizing by electing such officers as the board may deem necessary and appropriate. The board shall meet at least quarterly on a date and at a time and place that it shall determine and at such other times as may be specified upon the call of the chairperson or a majority of the board members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

(e) Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from the board. Members shall not serve for more than two consecutive full terms, except that if no successor has been appointed or approved, such member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed or approved. The Governor shall fill vacancies by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

(f) Members shall not be compensated for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.