(a) A State Board of Registration for Foresters is created whose duty it shall be to administer this chapter. The board shall consist of five foresters, who shall be selected and appointed by the Governor of Alabama from among 10 nominees recommended by the Alabama Division of the Society of American Foresters and shall have the qualifications required by Section 34-12-31. Each member of the board shall receive a certificate of his or her appointment from the Governor and before beginning his or her term of office shall file with the Secretary of State his or her written oath of affirmation for the faithful discharge of his or her official duties. The five members of the initial board shall be appointed for terms of one, two, three, four, and five years, respectively, and in making the appointment the Governor shall designate the term for which each of the members is appointed as provided for above. At the expiration of the term of any member of the initial board, the Governor shall, from a list of three nominees recommended by the Alabama Division of the Society of American Foresters, appoint for a term of five years a registered forester having the qualifications required by Section 34-12-31 to succeed the member whose term on the board is expiring. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit any member whose term expires to be reappointed to succeed himself or herself on the board. After March 7, 1990, no member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms of office. If the Governor fails to make appointment in 90 days after expiration of any term, the board shall make the necessary appointment from nominees submitted as hereinabove provided and who meet the qualifications set out by Section 34-12-31. Each member of the board shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which such member is appointed or until a successor shall have been duly appointed and shall have qualified.

(b) The membership of the board shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state. The board shall annually report to the Legislature by the second legislative day of each regular session the extent to which the board has complied with the diversity provisions of this subsection.