(a)        Creation; Membership. – The North Carolina Board for Licensing of Soil Scientists is created. The Board shall consist of seven members appointed as follows:

(1)        One member appointed by the Governor, who shall be a soil scientist employed by a federal or State agency.

(2)        One member appointed by the Governor, who shall be a soil scientist employed by a local government agency.

(3)        One member appointed by the Governor, who shall be a soil scientist employed by an institution of higher education.

(4)        One member appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a soil scientist who is privately employed.

(5)        One member appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a member of the public who is not a soil scientist.

(6)        One member appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, who shall be a soil scientist who is privately employed.

(7)        One member appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, who shall be a member of the public who is not a soil scientist.

(b)        Ex Officio Member. – In addition to the members of the Board appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the President of the Soil Science Society of North Carolina, or a member of the Society appointed by its President, shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the Board.

(c)        Terms. – Members shall serve staggered terms of office of three years. No member shall serve more than six consecutive years without an interruption in service of at least one year. The terms of office of members filling positions four and six shall expire on 30 June of years evenly divisible by three. The terms of office of members filling positions five and seven shall expire on 30 June of years that follow by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three. The terms of office of members filling positions one, two, and three shall expire on 30 June of years that precede by one year those years that are evenly divisible by three. Terms shall expire as provided by this subsection except that members of the Board shall serve until their successors are appointed and duly qualified as provided by G.S 128-7.

(d)       Vacancies; Removal. – Vacancies in appointments shall be filled for the unexpired term. Vacancies in appointments made by the General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-122 The Governor shall have the power to remove, in accordance with G.S 143B-13, any member appointed by the Governor. The General Assembly shall have the power to remove, in accordance with G.S 143B-13, any member appointed by the General Assembly.

(e)        Quorum. – A majority of the members of the Board appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(f)        Compensation; Expenses. – Subject to the availability of funds, members of the Board may receive compensation for their services and be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of duties required by this Chapter at the rates prescribed in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-5 (1995, c. 414, s. 1.)