Section 310-A:100 Board of Foresters; Establishment; Expenses.
I. A board of licensing for foresters is established to administer the provisions of this subdivision. The board shall consist of 7 persons appointed by the governor and council, 4 of whom shall be foresters as defined in RSA 310-A:99, I, and 3 public members. Of the forester members, one shall be the director, division of forests and lands, one shall be an industrial forester, one shall be a private forester, and one shall be a forester from the public sector. A public member of the board shall be a person who is not, and never was, a member of the forestry profession 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 forestry services or an activity directly related to forestry. Two of the public members shall be forest landowners actively engaged in forest management, but not otherwise connected with the forestry profession.
II. Each member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States and shall have been a resident of this state for at least 5 years prior to appointment. Each forestry member shall have actively practiced forestry for at least 6 years prior to appointment and shall have held a responsible position in charge of such work for at least 2 years prior to appointment, which may include the teaching of forestry at a recognized college or university.
III. Members shall be appointed for 5-year terms, except that no more than one appointed member's term may expire in any one calendar year. 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 a 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 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.
IV. Members of the board shall be reimbursed for mileage at the state employee rate.
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 or appoint a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary. Four members shall constitute a quorum.
VI. (a) The board shall adopt an official seal.
(b) The board shall keep a true record of its proceedings and a register of all applications for licensure, which shall show:
(1) The name, age, and residence of each applicant.
(2) The date of application.
(3) The place of business of such applicant.
(4) The applicant's educational and other qualifications.
(5) Whether or not an examination was required.
(6) Whether the applicant was rejected and the reasons for such rejection.
(7) Whether a license was granted.
(8) The date of the action of the board.
(9) Such other information as may be deemed necessary by the board.
(c) 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. Biennially, as of December 31 of each even-numbered year, the board shall submit to the governor a report of the transactions of the preceding biennium, and a complete statement of the receipts and expenditures of the board.
VII. The secretary of the board shall publish a roster listing the names and places of business of all foresters licensed under this subdivision by the board secretary during February of each even-numbered year. Copies of this roster shall be mailed to each licensed forester upon request, placed on file with the secretary of state, and furnished to the public upon request at a fee to be established by the board.
Source. 1990, 166:5. 1995, 284:49, eff. Jan. 1, 1996.