(a) Composition; chairman; quorum; qualifications. -- The fund shall be governed and administered by a board of trustees composed of the Director of the Division of Natural Resources and the Director of the Division of Forestry, who shall serve as voting ex officio members, and nine voting members to be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The ex officio members may appoint designees to serve on the board of trustees. One of the appointed members shall be a representative of the West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Authority; one of the appointed members shall be a registered forester; three of the appointed members shall be representatives of independent IRC 501(c)(3) land trusts; two of the appointed members shall be recognized professional experts in biology or ecology nominated by the West Virginia Academy of Sciences; one of the appointed members shall have demonstrated expertise in public health or public recreation; and one of the appointed members shall be a representative of sportsmen and sportswomen. A concerted effort shall be made to appoint members who represent a cross-section of the state.

The board shall elect the chair and other officers as necessary from among the nine appointed members. A majority of the members of the board serving at any one time constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

If any of the entities to be represented on the board under this section ceases to exist, the Governor shall appoint a representative with similar expertise from an entity with a similar mission.

(b) Terms. --

(1) The Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the nine members for the following terms:

(A) Three for a term of four years;

(B) Three for a term of three years; and

(C) Three for a term of two years.

(2) Successors to appointed members whose terms expire shall be appointed for terms of four years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. An appointed member may not serve more than two successive terms. Appointment to fill a vacancy may not be considered as one of two terms.

(c) Oath. --

Appointed members shall take the oath of office as prescribed by law.

(d) Recusal. --

A board member shall recuse himself or herself from any vote in which he or she has a conflict of interest. The provisions of this subsection is in addition to any other provisions of law or applicable rules relating to the ethics of public officers or employees.

(e) Compensation and expenses. --

Members shall not receive compensation. Each member of the board shall receive expense reimbursement from the fund for actual reasonable and necessary expenses incurred while engaged in the discharge of official duties, the actual expenses not to exceed the amount paid for similar reimbursement to members of the Legislature.