23-1386. Agricultural employment relations board; members; terms; appointment

A. An agricultural employment relations board is established that consists of seven members.

B. The governor shall appoint the members of the board. Two of the members shall be appointed as representatives of agriculture employers, two of the members appointed shall be representatives of organized agricultural labor and the three additional members, one of whom shall be the chairman of the board, shall be appointed as representatives of the general public. The term of office of the members is five years. On the initial appointment, one of the labor representatives shall be appointed for a term of one year, one of the representatives of the general public shall be appointed for a term of one year, one of the agricultural representatives shall be appointed for a term of two years, one of the representatives of the general public shall be appointed for a term of two years, one of the agricultural representatives shall be appointed for a term of three years, one of the labor representatives shall be appointed for a term of four years, and one of the public members of the board shall be appointed for a term of five years. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy of any member shall be appointed only for the unexpired portion of the term of the member he is succeeding. Members of the board may be removed from office by the governor on notice and a hearing for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office but for no other cause.

C. The governor shall appoint two alternate members. One of the alternates shall be appointed as a representative of organized agricultural labor and the other as a representative of agriculture. Alternates shall be appointed for terms of five years. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy of any alternate shall be appointed only for the unexpired portion of the term of the alternate he is succeeding. Alternates may be removed from office by the governor on notice and a hearing for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause. No alternate may participate in deliberations of the board except in the absence of a board member representing his area of interest.

D. The governor shall appoint a general counsel of the board. The general counsel is the exclusive legal representative of the board, has final authority, on behalf of the board, with respect to the investigation of charges and the issuance of complaints under section 23-1390 and with respect to the prosecution of such complaints by the board, and has such other duties as the board may prescribe or as may be provided by law. The general counsel shall appoint such assistants as needed to carry out the work of the office.

E. A vacancy on the board does not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the board, and four members constitute a quorum of the board. The board shall have an official seal that is judicially recognized.

F. The principal office of the board shall be in the city of Phoenix, but it may meet and exercise any of its powers at any other place.

G. The board may meet in executive session on the decision of a majority of the members of the board.

H. Meetings of the board may be called by the chairman or by a majority of the members of the board by giving written notice to the chairman who shall notify all of the members of the board as to the time and place of the board meeting.