(a) The Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board is established.

(b) The board shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Governor and two additional members, numbered 16 and 17, appointed by the Chair of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy. The members appointed by the Governor shall be legal residents of the state, and shall be selected on the basis of their representation of the following organizations, industries, entities, and professions:

(1) One member shall represent the Home Builders Association.

(2) One member shall represent the Board of General Contractors.

(3) One member shall represent the State Board of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration.

(4) One member shall represent the private, investor-owned, electric utility industry.

(5) One member shall represent the rural electric cooperative industry.

(6) One member shall represent the natural gas industry.

(7) One member shall be a licensed professional engineer.

(8) One member shall represent municipalities.

(9) One member shall represent county governments.

(10) One member shall represent the Alabama Council, American Institute of Architects.

(11) One member shall represent the Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board.

(12) One member shall represent the International Code Council (ICC) Alabama Chapter, Code Officials Association of Alabama.

(13) One member shall represent the Home Builders Licensure Board.

(14) One member shall represent the Alabama Joint Fire Council.

(15) One member shall represent the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry.

(16) One member shall be a Senate member of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy selected by the chair of the committee.

(17) One member shall be a House of Representatives member of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy selected by the chair of the committee.

(c) Each member appointed by the Governor shall be selected from a list of three candidates provided to the Governor by the division from each entity listed above. Board appointees shall be selected on the basis of their interest in problems concerning residential energy resources, consumption, and conservation, and without regard to political affiliation. Appointments shall be of such a nature as to aid the work of the board and to inspire the highest degree of coordination and cooperation. All members of the board shall be deemed members at-large charged with the responsibility of serving the best interests of the board, the division, the units of local government, and the state. No member shall act as the representative of any particular region, United States congressional district in Alabama, or state Senate or legislative district in Alabama.

(d) The board shall exercise authority with respect to all matters pertaining to the acceptance, adoption, and implementation of the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes by the State of Alabama. Decisions of the board shall be administered by the chief of the division with the assistance of such other officers and department employees as are deemed necessary to carry out the purpose, functions, duties, and activities of the board.

(e) The membership of the board shall be inclusive and should reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(f) This article shall not apply to the erection or construction of a farm structure. The term farm structure, for the purposes of this act, means a structure that is constructed on a farm, other than a residence or a structure attached to it, for use on the farm including, but not limited to, barns, sheds, and poultry houses. A farm structure does not include a structure originally qualifying as a farm structure but later converted to another use.