(a) There is in the Transportation Agency a Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun, consisting of seven members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, as follows:

(1) Two members shall be pilots licensed pursuant to this division.

(2) Two members shall represent the industry and shall be persons currently engaged as owners, officers, directors, employees, or representatives of a firm or association of firms that is a substantial user of pilotage service in the Bay of San Francisco, San Pablo, Suisun, or Monterey, one of whom shall be engaged in the field of tanker company operations, and one of whom shall be engaged in dry cargo operations. The board of directors of a regional maritime trade association controlled by West Coast vessel operators that specifically represents the owners and operators of vessels or barges engaged in transportation by water of cargo or passengers from or to the Pacific area of the United States shall nominate, rank, and submit to the Governor the names of three persons for each category of industry member to be appointed.

(3) Three members shall be public members. Any person may serve as a public member unless otherwise prohibited by law, except that during his or her term of office or within the two years preceding his or her appointment, a public member appointed shall not have (A) any financial or proprietary interest in the ownership, operation, or management of tugs, cargo, or passenger vessels, (B) sailed under the authority of a federal or state pilot license in waters under the jurisdiction of the board, (C) been employed by a company that is a substantial user of pilot services, or (D) been a consultant or other person providing professional services who had received more than 20 percent in the aggregate of his or her income from a company that is a substantial user of pilot services or an association of companies that are substantial users of pilot services. Ownership of less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the stock of a publicly traded corporation is not a financial or proprietary interest in the ownership of tugs, cargo, or passenger vessels.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this chapter does not prohibit the Governor from notifying the nominating authority identified in paragraph (2) that persons nominated are unacceptable for appointment. Following that notification, the nominating authority shall submit a new list of nominees to the Governor, naming three persons, none of whom were previously nominated, from which the Governor may make the appointment. This process shall be continued until a person nominated by the nominating authority and satisfactory to the Governor has been appointed.

(b) Members appointed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be appointed with staggered terms as follows:

(1) Each of the members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) shall be appointed for a four-year term, except that the first member appointed after December 31, 2012, to an initial term pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be appointed to a term expiring on December 31, 2014, and the first member appointed after December 31, 2012, to an initial term pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be appointed to a term expiring on December 31, 2014.

(2) Members appointed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) shall be appointed with staggered four-year terms with the initial four-year terms expiring on December 31 of the years 1988, 1990, and 1991, respectively.

(3) A person shall not be appointed for more than two terms.

(4) Vacancies on the board for both expired and unexpired terms shall be filled by the appointing power in the manner prescribed by subdivision (a).

(c) A quorum of the board members consists of four members. All actions of the board shall require the vote of four members, a quorum being present.

(d) The Secretary of Transportation shall serve as an ex officio member of the board who, without vote, may exercise all other privileges of a member of the board.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 330. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)