(a) The State Ethics Commission is hereby renamed and reestablished as the State Public Integrity Commission to assume the functions of the State Ethics Commission and to administer and implement this chapter, and to perform such other responsibilities as may be entrusted to it by law.
(b) The Commission shall consist of 7 members appointed by the Governor with the concurrence of the Senate. Not more than 4 members shall be registered with the same political party. No member shall hold any elected or appointed office under the government of the United States or the State or be a candidate for any such office. No member shall hold any political party office or an office in any political campaign. Members of the Commission may be removed by the Governor, with the concurrence of the Senate, for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office or violation of this chapter.
(c) A member of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of office of 7 years and until a successor has been appointed and has qualified, except that initially the Commission shall consist of the members of the former State Ethics Commission as of July 15, 1994, and said members shall serve the remaining portion of their terms and until their successors have been appointed and have qualified. No member shall serve for more than 1 full 7-year term. When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Commission, it shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as original appointments.
(d) The Commission shall elect a chairperson from among its membership. Four members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum and, if a quorum is present, a vacancy on the Commission shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the Commission. Disciplinary hearings may be conducted and sanctions may be imposed only by the affirmative action of at least 4 members. Otherwise the Commission may delegate authority to the chairperson to act for the Commission between meetings.
(e) Each member of the Commission shall be compensated at the rate of $100 for each day devoted to the performance of official duties. Each member of the Commission shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
(f) The principal office of the Commission shall be in Dover but it may meet, and exercise its power, at any other place in the State.