§ 16-60-2 Appointment of board members. (a) The governor shall with the advice and consent of the senate establish theboard by appointing eight (8) members to serve staggered terms. Theappointments shall be made for terms of three (3) years commencing on February1 in the year of appointment and ending on January 31 in the third (3rd) yearafter this, except, at the expiration of their terms members shall remain andcontinue in their official capacity until a new member is appointed andconfirmed. Any vacancy among the public members of the board shall be filled byappointment of the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. In theselection and appointment of members of the board the governor shall seekpersons who best serve the entire needs of the state. Public members shall notbe appointed for more than three (3) successive three (3) year terms each;provided, that this limitation shall not apply to that person designated aschairperson by the governor who may be a member so long as he or she shallserve as chairperson.
(b) No person shall be eligible for appointment to the boardafter the effective date of this act [March 24, 2006] unless he orshe is a resident of this state.
(c) Members of the board shall be removable by the governorpursuant to the provisions of § 36-1-7 of the general laws and for causeonly, and removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacityor fitness for the office shall be unlawful.