15-1621. Members; appointment; terms; oath; immunity

A. The Arizona board of regents consists of ten appointive members, including two student members, and the governor and the superintendent of public instruction as ex officio members.

B. Appointive members, except the student members, shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38-211. The term of each appointive member, except the student members, is eight years, to begin and end on the third Monday in January.

C. The governor shall appoint two student members to serve staggered terms. Each year the governor shall designate on a rotation basis a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents to submit a list of nominees for the position of student member. The associated students' organization of the designated university, by majority vote of its governing body, shall select three nominees for student member. The governor shall consider the three nominees when making the appointment of the student member but may appoint any qualified student. Before adjournment of the regular session of the legislature, the governor shall submit to the senate for consent of the senate the name of the nominee for student member whose term is to begin on July 1. A student nominated for a full term may not serve until confirmed by the senate. A student member must be a person who is legally domiciled in this state and attends a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents on a full-time basis. In the first year of the term the student member may exercise all rights and privileges of a board member, except the right to vote. In the second year of the term the student member may exercise all rights and privileges of a board member, including the right to vote. The term of each student member is two years, beginning on July 1. The governor may remove the student members for cause. A student member who graduates with no more than seven months remaining in the second year of a term may serve the remainder of the term. A vacancy in the office of student member shall be filled as follows:

1. If a vacancy occurs during the first year of a student member's term, the office shall be filled for the unexpired term. A student member nominated by the governor to fill a vacancy pursuant to this paragraph may serve the balance of the term without being confirmed by the senate.

2. If a vacancy occurs during the second year of a student member's term, the remaining student member shall assume all rights and privileges of a board member, including the right to vote. A new student member shall be nominated to a two year term to begin on July 1 as provided in this subsection.

D. On expiration of the term in January 2008 of two members of the Arizona board of regents, the governor shall appoint two members who reside in a county with a population of less than eight hundred thousand persons pursuant to section 38-211. One member shall be selected from Apache, Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo or Yavapai county and one member shall be selected from Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Pinal, Santa Cruz or Yuma county. Notwithstanding subsection B of this section, the initial term of one of the members appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be four years to begin and end on the third Monday in January. Thereafter, the governor shall appoint each member pursuant to this subsection for terms beginning on the third Monday of January of the year of the expiration of the term and ending on the third Monday of January eight years thereafter. This subsection does not preclude the governor from appointing more than two members who reside in a county with a population of less than eight hundred thousand persons at one time to the Arizona board of regents. The governor shall make subsequent appointments to replace the terms of members pursuant to this subsection in the same manner.

E. Each appointive member of the board shall take the oath of office before entering upon the duties of the member's office.

F. Members of the board are immune from personal liability with respect to all acts done and actions taken in good faith within the scope of their authority during duly constituted regular and special meetings with approval of a majority of the board.