1. I. A board of professional geologists is established to administer the provisions of this subdivision. The board shall consist of 6 persons. Five persons shall be appointed by the governor and council, 4 of whom shall be professional geologists and one of whom shall be a public member. The sixth member shall be the state geologist. The public member of the board shall be a person who is not, and never was, a geologist or the spouse of any such person, and who does not have and never has had, a material financial interest in either the provision of geologic services or an activity directly related to geology, including the representation of the board or profession for a fee at any time during the 5 years preceding appointment.
2. II. Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state. Each member except the public member and the state geologist shall have been a professional geologist for at least 10 years prior to appointment and shall have held a responsible position in charge of such work, which may include the teaching of geology, for at least 5 years prior to appointment. Experience in providing geological services for a fee, or being in responsible charge of geological work, obtained before the expiration of the period described in RSA 310-A:125, II, may count towards the requirements of this section if the member would have been eligible for licensure under RSA 310-A:125, II at the time of the relevant experience.
3. III. Members, except the state geologist, shall be appointed for 5-year terms, except that no more than one appointed member's term may expire in any one calendar year. Original appointments for terms of less than 5 years may be made in order to comply with this limitation. No appointed member shall be eligible to serve more than 2 full consecutive terms, provided that for this purpose only a period actually served which exceeds 1/2 of the 5-year term shall be deemed a full term. Upon expiration of an appointed member's term, the member shall serve until a successor is qualified and appointed. The successor's term shall be 5 years from the date of expiration of the predecessor's appointment, regardless of the date of the successor's appointment. Vacancies of appointed positions occurring prior to the expiration of a specific term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. A board member may be removed for cause by the governor and council under RSA 4:1.
4. IV. Members of the board shall be reimbursed for all actual travel, incidental, and clerical expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out the provisions of this subdivision.
5. V. The board shall hold at least 3 regular meetings each year and special meetings at such times as it may deem necessary. Notice of all meetings shall be given in such a manner as rules adopted by the board may provide. The board shall biennially elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary. A majority of members of the board who have been approved by the governor and council shall constitute a quorum.
6. VI. The board shall keep a record of its proceedings in accordance with the retention policy established by the office of professional licensure and certification.
7. VII. The records of the board shall be prima facie evidence of the proceedings of the board, and a transcript of such records certified by the secretary of the board under seal shall be admissible in evidence with the same force and effect as if the original were produced.
8. VIII. [Repealed.]

Source. 2000, 297:3. 2004, 15:2, eff. June 4, 2004. 2021, 197:141, 143, I, eff. July 1, 2021.