(a) The Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors is created.

(b) A person to be eligible for appointment to serve on the board shall be a citizen and resident of Alabama. Each person appointed to the board from each congressional district shall be actively engaged in the electrical construction business as a qualified person with electrical construction background of not less than five consecutive years, and shall hold certificates to validate his or her competence as an electrical contractor in the electrical construction field. The two persons appointed to the board as at-large members shall be members of the Alabama State Electrical Workers Association. The membership of the board should be inclusive and should reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(c) The board shall consist of nine members to be appointed by the Governor. One member shall be appointed from each congressional district, and there shall be two at-large members who shall be appointed from within the state. The board members from the First, Second, and Third Congressional Districts shall be appointed for terms of one year; the board members from the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Congressional Districts shall be appointed for terms of two years; and the board member from the Seventh Congressional District as well as the at-large members shall be appointed for terms of three years. Thereafter, all board members shall be appointed for terms of three years. Each term shall expire on June 30 of the last year of the term, and no member shall serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Vacancies on the board for any cause shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed.

(d) The board shall meet at least semiannually and as often as necessary. The board shall meet annually to elect officers from its membership, whose initial terms shall expire on June 30 next following their election. Special meetings of the board may be held as the board provides in its rules and regulations. The board shall meet at least once in the first quarter and once in the third quarter of the year. Five members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(e) The board may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this chapter.

(f) Any member of the board or duly appointed hearing officer designated by the board may administer oaths and take testimony concerning all matters within the jurisdiction of the board.

(g) The board may sue and be sued in its official name. Absent negligence, wantonness, recklessness, or deliberate misconduct, members of the board are immune from liability for all good faith acts performed in the execution of their duties of the board.

(h) The board shall adopt a seal for its use containing the words: Alabama Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board.

(i) The board may employ, and at its pleasure discharge, an executive director. The board may hire other officers and administrative employees which may be necessary to implement this chapter. The board may employ, on an as needed basis, an investigator to investigate complaints. The board shall not employ electrical inspectors nor provide for any electrical inspections. The board shall outline the duties and fix the compensation and expense allowances of all employees pursuant to the Merit System Act of Alabama.

(j) The board is subject to the Alabama Sunset Law and is classified as an enumerated agency pursuant to Section 41-20-3. The board shall automatically terminate on October 1, 2012, and every four years thereafter, unless a bill is enacted that the board be continued, modified, or reestablished.

(k) Each board member shall be accountable to the Governor for the proper performance of his or her duties as a member of the board. The Governor shall investigate any complaints or unfavorable reports concerning the actions of the board and shall take appropriate action thereon, including removal of any board member for misfeasance, malfeasance, neglect of duty, commission of a felony, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties. A board member may be removed at the request of the board after failing to attend three consecutive properly noticed meetings.