§34-11-30. Creation and composition; nominating committee; oath and terms of office.

(a) A State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is created. It shall be the duty of the board to administer this chapter. The board shall consist of five professional engineers and two professional land surveyors. Commencing on July 1, 2014, the five professional engineers shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons nominated for each appointment by a committee and the two land surveyors shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons nominated for each appointment by the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors. Nominations shall be made to the Governor by the committee or the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors, respectively, as vacancies on the board occur, whether by the expiration of a term or otherwise, in a position filled by a professional engineer or land surveyor, respectively. To the extent possible, the nominating committee, the Alabama Society of Professional Land Surveyors, and the Governor shall select those persons whose appointments ensure that the membership of the board is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(b) The nominating committee shall consist of one professional engineer appointed or elected by each of the professional organizations as outlined in the rules of the board. Any other organization in the state having membership qualifications comparable to those professional organizations outlined in the rules of the board may petition the board for membership on the committee. The board, by rule, may establish nominating committee operating guidelines and, by rule, may establish procedures for the removal of nonparticipating members of the nominating committee. Nominees shall have the qualifications required by Section 34-11-31. Nominations shall be made by a majority vote of the committee present at the same time at a meeting called by the executive director of the board, who shall advise the above named societies of the meeting at least 30 days before the meeting is held.

(c) Each member of the board, before beginning his or her term of office, shall file with the Secretary of State his or her written oath or affirmation for the faithful discharge of his or her official duties. The members of the board shall continue to serve under this chapter until their respective terms expire. On the expiration of the term of each member, the Governor shall in the manner provided in this section appoint for a term of five years a professional engineer or professional land surveyor having the qualifications required by Section 34-11-31 to take the place of the member whose term on the board is about to expire. Vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, in the manner provided in this section, for the unexpired term. Each member shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which the member is appointed or until a successor is duly appointed and qualified.

(Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 79, p. 1976, §3; Acts 1995, No. 95-282, p. 516, §3; Acts 1997, No. 97-683, p. 1332, §1; Act 2003-141, p. 440, §3; Act 2009-642, p. 1975, §1; Act 2014-375, §1.)