(a) The authority shall be composed of the following members or their designees:

(1) The Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

(2) The Director of the Technical Staff of the Alabama Building Commission.

(3) The Director of Finance of the State of Alabama.

(4) The Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission.

(5) The senior collections curator of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

(6) The chief architectural historian of the Alabama Historical Commission.

(7) The President of the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation.

(8) The President of the Friends of the Alabama Governor's Mansion.

(9) The President of the Business Council of Alabama.

(10) The Chairman of the Black Heritage Council.

(11) The Executive Director of the Landmarks Foundation of Montgomery.

(12) A history teacher to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, having demonstrated proficiency and interest in preservation of state history.

(13) The Director of the State Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

(14) The Director of the Historic Mobile Preservation Society.

(15) The President of the Alabama Historical Association.

(16) The spouse of the Governor of Alabama.

(17) The Executive Director of the Eufaula Heritage Association.

(b) At its first meeting each year, the members of the authority shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary, each of whom shall serve two-year terms. The vice chair shall act in the place of the chair in the chair's absence or disability. The vice chair and secretary shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. The authority shall meet at such times as designated by the authority at a place as is deemed necessary or convenient, but the chair shall call a meeting once a year. The chair may also call a special meeting at any time the chair deems it advisable or necessary. A quorum shall be a simple majority of the authority membership or their designees. Members of the authority or any committee thereof may participate in meetings of the authority or such committees by telephone conference or similar communications equipment through which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time, and such participation by the members shall constitute presence at a meeting for all purposes. Members and their designees shall serve without compensation.

(c) Except as specified by subsection (a), the authority shall strive, when applicable, to select designees that reflect the racial, geographic, and economic diversity of the state.