§22A-7-4 Board of miner training, education and certification continued; membership; method of appointment; terms.
§22A-7-4. Board of miner training, education and certification continued; membership; method of appointment; terms.
(a) There is hereby continued a board of miner training, education and certification, which consists of seven members, who are selected in the following manner:
(1) One member shall be appointed by the governor to represent the viewpoint of surface mine operators in this state. When such member is to be appointed, the governor shall request from the major association representing surface coal operators in this state a list of three nominees to the board. The governor shall select from said nominees one person to serve on the board. For purposes of this subsection, the major association representing the surface coal operators in this state is that association, if any, which represents surface mine operators accounting for over one half of the coal produced in surface mines in this state in the year prior to that year in which the appointment is made.
(2) Two members shall be appointed by the governor to represent the interests of the underground operators of this state. When said members are to be appointed, the governor shall request from the major association representing the underground coal operators in this state a list of six nominees to the board. The governor shall select from said nominees two persons to serve on the board. For purposes of this subsection, the major association representing the underground operators in this state is that association, if any, which represents underground operators accounting for over one half of the coal produced in underground mines in this state in the year prior to that year in which the appointments are made.
(3) Three members shall be appointed by the governor who can reasonably be expected to represent the interests of the working miners in this state. If the major employee organization representing coal miners in this state is divided into administrative districts, the employee organization of each district shall, upon request by the governor, submit a list of three nominees for membership on the board. If such major employee organization is not so divided into administrative districts, such employee organization shall, upon request by the governor, submit a list of twelve nominees for membership on the board. The governor shall make such appointments from the persons so nominated: Provided, That in the event nominations are made by administrative districts, not more than one member shall be appointed from the nominees of any one district unless there are less than three such districts in this state.
(4) The seventh member of the board, who serves as chair, shall be the director of the office of miners' health, safety and training.
(5) All appointments made by the governor under this section shall be with the advice and consent of the Senate: Provided, That persons so appointed while the Senate of this state is not in session are permitted to serve up to one year in an acting capacity, or until the next session of the Legislature, whichever is less.
(b) The board shall be appointed by the governor. Members serving on the effective date of this article may continue on the board until their terms expire. Appointed members serve for a term of three years. The board shall meet at the call of the chair, at the call of the director, or upon the request of any two members of the board: Provided, That no meeting of the board for any purpose shall be conducted unless the board members are notified at least five days in advance of a proposed meeting. In cases of an emergency, members may be notified of a board meeting by the most appropriate means of communication available.
(c) Whenever a vacancy on the board occurs, appointments shall be made in the manner prescribed in this section: Provided, That in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy nominations shall be submitted to the governor within thirty days after the vacancy occurs. The vacancy shall be filled by the governor within thirty days of receipt of the list of nominations.
(d) Each appointed member of the board shall be paid the samecompensation, and each member of the board shall be paid the expense reimbursement, as is paid to members of the Legislature for their interim duties as recommended by the citizens legislative compensation commission and authorized by law for each day or portion thereof engaged in the discharge of official duties. Any such amounts shall be paid out of the state treasury upon a requisition upon the state auditor, properly certified by such members of the board.
(e) A quorum of the board is four members. The board may act officially by a majority of those members who are present.
(f) The chair of the board shall be a nonvoting member: Provided, That in cases of a tie, the chair shall cast the deciding vote on the issue or issues under consideration.
(g) The director of the office of miners' health, safety and training shall select a member of the office's staff to serve as the secretary to the board and the secretary shall be present or send an authorized representative to all meetings of the board.