(a) Effective June 30, 2007, the Education and State Employees Grievance Board, and the employment of the hearing examiners and administrative law judges under the board, terminate.

(b) Effective July 1, 2007, the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board is created as an independent entity under the Department of Administration and all references to the Education and State Employees Grievance Board in the code shall be considered to refer to the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board.

(c) On or before July 1, 2007, the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint the following five members to the board for the following terms:

(1) One person representing the largest labor organization in the state for a term of three years;

(2) One person representing an education employee organization in the state for a term of two years;

(3) One employer representative from the executive branch for a term of two years;

(4) One employer representative from secondary or higher education for a term of three years; and

(5) One citizen member, who is not a current employee, employer or a representative of employees in a workplace in the public, educational or higher educational sector of this state, for a term of one year.

(d) After the initial appointment, the board term shall be three years.

(e) No member may serve more than two consecutive full terms and any member having served two consecutive full terms may not be appointed for one year after completion of his or her second full term. A member shall continue to serve until his or her successor has been appointed and qualified.

(f) A vacancy on the board shall be filled by the Governor by appointment of a like member for the unexpired term of the member whose office is vacant.

(g) The membership of the board shall represent each congressional district, with no more than two members from any one district and no more than three members may be from the same political party.

(h) Each member of the board, at the time of his or her appointment, must have been a resident of this state for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding the appointment and each member of the board shall remain a resident of this state during the appointment term.

(i) The Governor may remove any member from the board for neglect of duty, incompetency, criminal convictions or official misconduct.

(j) Any member of the board immediately and automatically forfeits his or her membership if he or she is convicted of a felony under the laws of any state or the United States, or becomes a nonresident of this state.

(k) The board shall hold at least four meetings per year. Other meetings shall be held at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request of two members, at such time and place as designated in the call or request.

(l) The board shall designate one of its members as chairperson and one member as secretary-treasurer who shall serve at the will of the board.

(m) A majority of the members of the board constitute a quorum.

(n) Each member of the board is entitled to receive compensation and expense reimbursement as is accorded legislators in the performance of their duties.