(a) There is established the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board. The board shall consist of nine members who shall, at the time of appointment and during the entire time for which appointed, be residents and citizens of Alabama. The initial appointments to the board shall be effective October 1, 1999, with required licensing beginning January 2000, or as soon as possible thereafter. Of the nine members of the board, three members shall be appointed by the Governor, three members shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and three members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Alabama Legislature.

(b) Of the three members appointed by the Governor, one shall be actively engaged in the business of installing onsite sewage systems and shall serve an initial term of two years. One member appointed by the Governor shall be actively engaged in the business of manufacturing septic tanks and shall serve an initial term of two years. One member appointed by the Governor shall be actively engaged in the business of pumping, servicing, or maintaining onsite sewage equipment and shall serve an initial term of three years. Appointees to these positions on the board shall be licensees of the board or have ownership in a business employing a designated licensee in a position of responsible charge. The appointments and successor appointments by the Governor shall be made from a list of recommendations submitted by the governing board of the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association, which list of recommendations shall include three individuals recommended for each board position.

(c)(1) Of the three members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, one member shall be actively engaged in the business of manufacturing septic tanks and shall serve an initial term of four years, and one member shall be actively engaged in the business of installing onsite sewage systems and shall serve an initial term of four years. Appointees to these positions on the board shall be licensees of the board or have ownership in a business employing a designated licensee in a position of responsible charge. These two appointments by the Lieutenant Governor shall be made from a list of recommendations submitted by the governing board of the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association, which list of recommendations shall include three individuals for each board position.

At the end of the term of the board member serving in the septic tank manufacturing position following June 1, 2010, subsequent appointments to that position shall be to either a person licensed by the board or a person having ownership of a business employing a person who meets all of the following requirements that he or she: Is in a position of responsible charge, provides or rents onsite toilet systems or portable toilet systems, is licensed by the board, has been involved in his or her respective business for five consecutive years, is in good standing with the local health authorities and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Subsequent appointees to the onsite system installer position shall be either a licensee of the board or a person having ownership in a business employing a designated licensee in a position of responsible charge.

(2) The Lieutenant Governor shall also appoint a member actively engaged in the development of a training or educational program or instruction in environmental protection, preferably experienced in the area of the sewage industry, and this member shall serve an initial term of three years. This member shall: Have a minimum of six years' experience in the stated area of educational expertise, be in good standing with his or her professional or regulating boards, and possess a reputation of high standards within the academic community.

(d)(1) Of the three members appointed by the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, one member shall be an environmental engineer with training in the onsite sewage industry, be experienced in and have an understanding of the design and construction of onsite sewage systems, and be in good standing with the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. This member shall serve an initial term of four years and shall be appointed from a list of three recommendations provided by the Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

(2) The Speaker of the House shall also appoint one member who has been actively involved for a minimum of three years in the onsite sewage inspection process and the regulation of onsite sewage systems and is employed by a local county health department or the Alabama Department of Public Health. This member shall serve an initial term of four years.

(3) The Speaker of the House shall also appoint a member who is a consumer who will represent the public at large and who has an interest in the onsite sewage industry. The consumer member may not be engaged in or otherwise connected with any person or firm or corporation or business dealing with the onsite sewage industry and shall serve an initial term of four years.

(e) Upon the expiration of the initial terms of office, and thereafter, all members appointed to the board shall serve four-year terms, or until their successors are appointed. Their successors, who shall be appointed by the same respective appointing authorities and shall possess the same respective qualifications as required for the initial appointees, shall each serve not more than two consecutive terms of office. The membership of the board shall be inclusive and the appointing authorities shall consider the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state in making their appointments.

(f) If an appointment of a member to the board is to be made from a list of recommendations from an association, organization, or other board, the list of recommendations shall be submitted to the appointing authority at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the current term of the vacating board member.

(g) An appointing authority may rescind any appointment and replace any board member who is unable or unwilling to fulfill his or her duties to the citizens of Alabama through service on the board and who has not tendered his or her resignation.