(1) There is created the Board of Registered Professional Geologists to administer this chapter. The board shall consist of five (5) registered professional geologists appointed by the Governor from nominees recommended by the committee created in subsection (3) of this section, but geologists initially appointed to the board shall be qualified for registration under this chapter and shall register within the first year of their term. The Governor shall require adequate disclosure of potential conflicts of interest by appointees to the board. The board shall, to the extent practicable, consist of one (1) member appointed from the governmental sector, one (1) member appointed from academia, one (1) member appointed from the geotechnical/environmental industrial sector, one (1) member appointed from the mining/mineral extraction industrial sector, and one (1) member appointed at large. The initial term of the members shall be as follows: Two (2) members shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years, two (2) members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years, and one (1) member shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years. Following appointment of the initial board, all terms shall be for four (4) years. The term of members shall begin and end on July 1 of the appropriate year regardless of the date of appointment. Upon expiration of a member’s term, the Governor may appoint a new member or may reappoint the existing member to one (1) additional term. No member of the board shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. Members shall hold office until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner as the original appointments. Before assuming the duties of office, each member of the board shall take the oath prescribed in Section 268 of the Constitution. Each member shall receive a certificate of appointment from the Governor. Original appointments to the board shall be made before October 1, 1997.

(2) Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States, a resident of this state for at least five (5) years immediately preceding that person’s appointment, and at least thirty (30) years of age.

(3)

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the board annually shall appoint a nominating committee. No board member shall participate on the nominating committee during the year in which that member’s term expires. The nominating committee shall compile a list of the nominees and submit that list to the registered professional geologists on the roster. Each geologist shall have one (1) vote and shall submit that vote in writing within fifteen (15) days following the mailing of the list of nominees. The executive director, or the president in the absence of an executive director, shall calculate the results and recommend to the Governor the three (3) nominees from the sector in which the vacancy occurs receiving the largest number of votes.

(b) The Task Force/Advisory Committee on Geologic Registration shall recommend fifteen (15) nominees to the Governor for appointment to the initial board.