(a) There is created a State Board of Home Inspectors, which shall enforce and administer this chapter.

(b) The Board shall consist of 5 members, who are residents of this State, and are appointed by the Governor. Three of the 5 members shall be licensed home inspectors, 1 of which shall be a certified HUD inspector, engaged primarily in the home inspection business. The initial members of the Board required to be licensed home inspectors shall be given a reasonable amount of time after their appointment to the Board to become licensed home inspectors pursuant to the licensure requirements set forth in this chapter. Two of the 5 members shall be public members. A public member shall not be, nor ever have been, a home inspector nor a member of the immediate family of a home inspector; shall not have been employed by a home inspector or a company engaged in the practice of home inspection; shall not have a material interest in the providing of goods and services to home inspectors; nor have been engaged in an activity directly related to home inspection.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, each member shall serve a term of 3 years, and may succeed himself or herself for 1 additional term; provided, however, that where a member was initially appointed to fill a vacancy, such member may succeed himself or herself for only 1 additional full term. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term of the former member. Each term of office shall expire on the date specified in the appointment; however, the member shall remain eligible to participate in board proceedings unless and until replaced by the Governor.

(d) A person, who has never served on the Board, may be appointed to the Board for 2 consecutive terms; but no such person shall thereafter be eligible for 2 consecutive appointments. No person, who has been twice appointed to the Board or who has served on the Board for 6 years within any 9-year period, shall again be appointed to the Board until an interim period of at least 1 term has expired since such person last served.

(e) Any act or vote by a person appointed in violation of this section shall be invalid. An amendment or revision of this chapter is not sufficient cause for any appointment or attempted appointment in violation of subsection (d) of this section, unless such an amendment or revision amends this section to permit such an appointment.

(f) A member of the Board shall be suspended or removed by the Governor for misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, misconduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty. A member subject to disciplinary hearing shall be disqualified from Board business until the charge is adjudicated or the matter is otherwise concluded. A member may appeal any suspension or removal to the Superior Court.

(g) No member of the Board, while serving on the Board, shall hold elective office in any professional association of home inspectors; this includes a prohibition against serving as head of the professional association’s political action committee (PAC).

(h) The provisions set forth in Chapter 58 of Title 29 shall apply to all members of the Board.

(i) Any member, who is absent without adequate reason for 3 consecutive meetings, or who fails to attend at least half of all regular business meetings during any calendar year, shall be guilty of neglect of duty.

(j) Each member of the Board shall be reimbursed for all expenses involved in each meeting, including travel, and in addition shall receive compensation per meeting attended in an amount determined by the Division in accordance with Del. Const. art. III, §  9.

78 Del. Laws, c. 170, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 85, § 24.