74C-4. Private Protective Services Board established; members; terms; vacancies; compensation; meetings.

(a) The Private Protective Services Board is hereby established in the Department of Public Safety to administer the licensing and set educational and training requirements for persons, firms, associations, and corporations engaged in a private protective services profession within this State.

(b) The Board shall consist of 14 members: the Secretary of Public Safety or the Secretary's designated representative, three persons appointed by the Governor, five persons appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and five persons appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. All appointments by the General Assembly shall be subject to the provisions of G.S. 120-121, and vacancies in the positions filled by those appointments shall be filled pursuant to G.S. 120-122. One of those persons appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and all five persons appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be licensees under this Chapter; all other appointees may not be licensees of the Board nor licensed by the Board while serving as Board members. All persons appointed shall serve terms of three years. With the exception of the Secretary of Public Safety or the Secretary's designated representative, no person shall serve more than eight consecutive years on the Board. Board members may continue to serve until their successors have been appointed.

(c) Vacancies on the Board occurring for any reason shall be filled by the authority making the original appointment of the person causing the vacancy.

(d) Each member of the Board, before assuming the duties of his office, shall take an oath for the faithful performance of his duties. A Board member may be removed at the pleasure of the authority making the original appointment or by the Board for misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty.

(e) Members of the Board who are State officers or employees shall receive no per diem compensation for serving on the Board, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-6. Members of the Board who are full-time salaried public officers or employees other than State officers or employees shall receive no per diem compensation for serving on the Board, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-6 in the same manner as State officers or employees. All other Board members shall receive per diem compensation and reimbursement in accordance with G.S. 93B-5.

(f) The Board shall elect a chairman, vice-chairman, and other officers and committee chairmen from among its members as the Board deems necessary and desirable at the first meeting after July 1 of each year. The chairman and vice-chairman shall be selected by the members of the Board for a term of one year and shall be eligible for reelection. The Board shall meet at the call of the chairman or a majority of the members of the Board at such time, date, and location as may be decided upon by a majority of the Board.

(g) All decisions heretofore made by the Private Protective Services Board, established pursuant to Chapter 74B, shall remain in full force and effect unless and until repealed or suspended by action of the Private Protective Services Board established herein.

(h) The Board shall pay the appropriate State agency for the use of physical facilities and services provided to it by the State.