§ 740. State board of social welfare. 1. The state board of social welfare is the legal authority established by the constitution responsible for the inspection and visitation of certain institutions and certain agencies and for the making of rules and regulations with respect to all of the functions, powers and duties with which the board is charged, subject to the control of the legislature and pursuant to this article and other provisions of law. It shall be the major purposes of the board to review, report and make recommendation concerning the policies and programs pertaining to child and adult care, including the implementation of such policies and programs and the quality of supervision exercised by the responsible state and local supervisory agencies; to advise the governor and the legislature with respect to such matters; to conduct independent research, studies and analyses of state policies and programs affecting child and adult care; to advocate the improvement of such programs and policies; and to conduct special research, studies and analyses, at the request of the governor, with respect to any matter related to human services generally. The board as constituted shall continue as a division of the executive department.

2. The board shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the governor by and with the consent of the senate. At the expiration of the term of any member of the board his successor shall be appointed for a term of five years.