(a) There is established a Polygraph Examiners Board consisting of five voting members who are citizens of the United States and residents of the state for at least two years prior to appointment, all of whom shall have been engaged for a period of four consecutive years in their profession as polygraph examiners prior to appointment to the board and engaged at the time of appointment as an active polygraph examiner. No board members may be employed by the same person or agency. Three of the board members shall be qualified polygraph examiners of a governmental law enforcement agency, and two of the board members shall be qualified polygraph examiners and Alabama residents in the commercial field. Two advisory consultants, who shall possess qualifications as established by rule of the board, shall be appointed to assist the board members. The board members and advisory consultants shall be appointed by the Governor of the State of Alabama for a term of four years. Any vacancy in an unexpired term shall be filled by appointment of the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the unexpired term. In appointing members to the board, the Governor shall select those persons whose appointments, to the extent possible, ensure that the membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state. On April 11, 1989, all terms of current board members and advisory consultants shall expire. The Governor shall appoint new board members and advisory consultants in accordance with this chapter. Immediately after May 12, 2003, the board shall notify the Governor of the vacancies on the board and the Governor shall immediately appoint qualified persons to fill those vacancies in accordance with this chapter.

(b) The board may fix the number of its full-time employees, who shall be employed pursuant to the Merit System. The board may engage temporary services for the investigation of applications or to investigate complaints filed against examiners. The board shall fix the compensation for any temporary employees. Temporary employees of the board are not covered under the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Any current full-time employee of the board shall be transferred to the Department of Public Safety on April 11, 1989. All benefits, including retirement, of any current full-time employee of the board who is transferred to the Department of Public Safety in accordance with this chapter, shall be retroactive back to the original date of employment upon payment of necessary contributions as required by the Employees' Retirement System.

(c) On or after April 11, 1989, and within 30 days of the appointments by the Governor, this new board shall meet and elect a chair from among the members of the board. The board shall meet at three-month intervals, or at any other time as necessary.

(d) The vote of a majority of the board members is sufficient for passage of any business or proposal which comes before the board.

(e) All documents, records, functions, and responsibilities currently housed at the Board of Polygraph Examiners' Office shall be transferred to the Department of Public Safety in a section to be determined by the Director of the Department of Public Safety and under the supervision of the Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the board.