(a)

(1) There is created the State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists.

(2) It shall be the duty of the board to administer this chapter and promulgate regulations for registration of qualified geological applicants.

(3) The board shall comprise:

(A) Five (5) members who shall be registered geologists, one (1) of whom shall be an academic geologist, one (1) a governmental geologist, one (1) a salaried company geologist, one (1) an independent or consultant geologist, and one (1) a geologist-at-large;

(B) One (1) additional member who shall be appointed from the public at large and who shall have no connection whatsoever with the practice of geology; and

(C) The Director of the Arkansas Geological Survey, or his or her designated agent, as a permanent ex officio member.

(b) The members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

(c) Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States and shall have been a resident of this state for the two (2) years immediately preceding his or her appointment.

(d) The members shall serve five-year terms.

(e) No person shall serve as a member of the board for more than one (1) consecutive five-year term.

(f) The Governor may remove any member of the board for misconduct, incompetency, neglect of duty, or any other sufficient cause. Vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the Governor.

(g) Before entering upon the discharge of their duty, the members of the board shall subscribe to and file with the Secretary of State the constitutional oath of officers, whereupon the Secretary of State shall issue to each appointee a certificate of appointment.

(h) The members of the board may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq. Board members, except the Secretary-treasurer of the State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists, shall serve without compensation.