(a) There is created the Tennessee board of court reporting, which shall be attached to the department of commerce and insurance, division of regulatory boards, which is authorized to administer all the administrative functions and duties of the board, except those discretionary regulatory duties and powers vested by law in the board members.

(b)

(1) The board shall be comprised of seven (7) members, as follows:

(A) One (1) circuit or chancery court judge;

(B) Two (2) attorneys licensed to practice in the state;

(C) Two (2) freelance court reporters who practice machine shorthand;

(D) One (1) court reporter who practices any method of court reporting; and

(E) One (1) freelance court reporter who practices electronic court reporting, closed microphone voice dictation silencer reporting or manual shorthand reporting (pen).

(2) All court reporter members shall be licensed pursuant to this part; provided, however, that the initial court reporters appointed shall not be required to be licensed pursuant to this part until July 1, 2010.

(c) All members of the board shall be citizens of the United States and this state. The initial terms shall begin July 1, 2009, and all appointments shall be made by the governor prior to July 1 of each year for which appointments are to be made. The court reporter members may be appointed from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested court reporter groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Court Reporters Association. The governor shall consult with such groups before making any appointments to the board.

(d) The initial members shall serve the following terms as designated by the governor:

(1) Three (3) members shall serve for two (2) years;

(2) Two (2) members shall serve for three (3) years; and

(3) Two (2) members shall serve for four (4) years.

(e) Subsequent terms of office shall be for four (4) years. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. In the event of a vacancy, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. Each member shall serve until a successor is duly appointed and qualified.

(f) At its first meeting each calendar year, the board shall elect a chair, vice chair and secretary from its membership. No member shall be elected to serve more than two (2) consecutive years in the same office.

(g) After the initial appointments have been made, the board shall meet during July 2009, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the purpose of organizing and transacting business. Thereafter, the board shall meet not less than twice annually and as frequently as deemed necessary by the chair or a majority of the members. The board shall meet at a time and place designated by the board. A quorum shall consist of four (4) members.

(h) Board members shall receive travel expenses according to the rules promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general.