(a) The Board of Corrections shall be composed of seven (7) voting members:
(1) Five (5) citizen members;
(2) The chair of the Parole Board; and
(3) One (1) member of a criminal justice faculty who is employed at any four-year university in Arkansas.
(b) The Board of Corrections shall elect a chair annually in accordance with rules developed by the Board of Corrections.
(c)
(1) All members of the Board of Corrections shall serve a term of seven (7) years, unless they resign or are removed.
(2) Vacancies occurring before the expiration of a term shall be filled in the manner provided for members first appointed.
(3) Members shall serve until their replacements are appointed.
(4) The Governor shall appoint those members not determined by virtue of their office when vacancies occur.
(d)
(1)
(A) A member of the Board of Corrections may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.
(B) However, a member shall receive a per diem stipend and reimbursement for expenses for both official meetings and related activities associated with attending to the business of the Board of Corrections, the Division of Correction, the Division of Community Correction, and the Corrections School System for up to an annual average of seven (7) days per month.
(C) The reimbursement for use of private airplanes shall be in accordance with state travel rules.
(D) A public university employee or other state employee who serves on the Board of Corrections is allowed to receive a per diem stipend and reimbursement of expenses for both official meetings and related activities associated with attending to the business of the Board of Corrections.
(2) All expenses that may be reimbursed to members of the Board of Corrections and stipends as provided in § 25-16-901 et seq. shall be payable from the maintenance funds appropriated for the Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction.
(e) The Governor shall appoint an advisory judicial group to facilitate coordination among the judicial system, the Division of Correction, and the Division of Community Correction to promote the effective and efficient use of correctional resources in furtherance of sentencing policy adopted by the General Assembly.
(f) The Board of Corrections, in cooperation with the Governor, may establish additional advisory groups composed of professionals from the criminal justice system and citizens representing specific criminal justice interest groups to assist the Board of Corrections in its charge.
(g) The Board of Corrections shall meet no less than quarterly.
(h) The Board of Corrections shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a biennial report six (6) months prior to the convening of the regular session.
(i)
(1) The Board of Corrections shall keep regular minutes of all its meetings, visits, and proceedings and shall cause the minutes, together with all orders and rules adopted by it, to be recorded in a book which shall be kept by the secretary of the Board of Corrections for that purpose.
(2) The record shall be signed by the members of the Board of Corrections present at the meeting or visit and shall at all times be open to the inspection of the Governor or any member of the General Assembly.
(j)
(1) The Board of Corrections shall employ necessary staff to assist with the range and diversity of the charge of the Board of Corrections.
(2) In addition to Board of Corrections staff, the Board of Corrections may reassign staff from the divisions it governs for either short-term or long-term service to the Board of Corrections.