(a) There is created the board of social worker licensure. On and after July 1, 2008, the former board of social worker certification and licensure is renamed and shall be known as the board of social worker licensure.

(b)

(1) On and after July 1, 2008, the board shall consist of eleven (11) members, one (1) of whom shall be a representative of the public, having neither a direct nor an indirect association with the social work profession, and each of the remainder shall be social workers who possess the qualifications specified in §§ 63-23-102 — 63-23-105. The board shall at all times be composed of two (2) licensed baccalaureate social workers, two (2) licensed master's social workers, three (3) licensed advanced practice social workers and three (3) licensed clinical social workers, all of whom shall be residents of the state, and who shall be appointed by the governor.

(2) In order to transition to the eleven-member board with new licensure classifications, appointments to the board on and after July 1, 2008, shall be made in the following manner:

(A) A licensed advanced practice social worker shall be appointed to the board as a new member for a five-year term;

(B) A licensed advanced practice social worker shall be appointed to the board as a new member for a four-year term;

(C) A licensed baccalaureate social worker shall be appointed to the board as a new member for a five-year term;

(D) A licensed baccalaureate social worker shall be appointed to the board as a new member for a four-year term;

(E) A certified master social worker whose term expires in 2008 shall be replaced by the appointment of a licensed advanced practice social worker for a three-year term;

(F) A certified master social worker whose term expires in 2008 shall be replaced by the appointment of a licensed master's social worker for a five-year term;

(G) Two (2) independent practitioners whose terms expire in 2009 shall be replaced by the appointment of two (2) licensed clinical social workers for five-year terms;

(H) A certified master social worker whose term expires in 2009 shall be replaced by the appointment of a licensed master's social worker for a five-year term;

(I) An independent practitioner whose term expires in 2010 shall be replaced by the appointment of a licensed clinical social worker for a five-year term; and

(J) The member of the public who is not directly or indirectly engaged in social work whose term expires in 2011 shall be replaced by a member of the public for a five-year term.

(3) The social worker members may be appointed by the governor from lists of nominees submitted by interested social worker groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The governor shall consult with the interested social worker groups to determine qualified persons to fill positions on the board.

(4) All board members, except the member of the public who is not directly or indirectly engaged in social work, shall be duly licensed or eligible to be licensed by the board. Subsequent appointees to the board shall possess the professional qualifications required by their predecessors as required in this section and shall be appointed to five-year terms.

(5) Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring on the board shall be filled by the governor for the balance of the unexpired term. A board member is eligible for reappointment.

(6) In making appointments to the board, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the board is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority.

(c) For each day engaged in the business of the board, members shall receive as compensation fifty dollars ($50.00) and shall also receive actual expenses to be paid in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(d) The members of the board shall annually elect a chair and a secretary.

(e) The board shall meet as frequently as reasonably necessary to implement this chapter. Six (6) or more members of the board constitute a quorum for transacting board business.

(f) For administrative purposes, the board shall be attached to the division of health related boards, as defined in § 68-1-101, referred to as “division” in this chapter.