(a) There is established the Virgin Islands Board of Licensed Counselors and Examiners composed of seven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature, but one such member must be a resident of St. John.
(b) Not later than four years after enactment of this chapter, five of the seven Board members must be appointed to the Board and must be individuals who are eligible for licensure under this chapter as follows:
(1) One licensed substance abuse counselor;
(2) One licensed marriage and family therapist;
(3) Three licensed professional counselors; and
(4) Two individuals from the public who meet the requirements established in subsection (e) of this section.
(c) Of the first Board members appointed, three shall continue in office for two years, three for three years, and one for four years. Their successors must be appointed for terms of four years each; except that any person chosen to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired term of the Board member succeeded. Upon the expiration of a Board member’s term of office, the Board member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.
(d) The Governor shall designate one Board member to serve as the first chairperson. The Board by majority vote of the members present, a quorum being present, shall elect from among its members the second and successive chairpersons, along with the vice-chairperson and the secretary/treasurer. The Board shall determine the manner of election of officers, their duties and their terms of office.
(e) Two years after enactment of this chapter, all members of the Board, with the exception of the two members selected from the general public, must be licensed under this chapter. The two members of the Board appointed by the Governor from the general public, must be individuals who:
(1) are accessible to inquiries, comments, and suggestions from the general public;
(2) are familiar with mental health issues and applicable federal and local law;
(3) may not be or ever have been licensed professional counselors or in training to be licensed professional counselors;
(4) may not be or ever have had a household member or of members of their immediate family who are or were a substance abuse counselor, marriage and family therapist, or licensed professional counselor;
(5) may not participate or ever have participated in a commercial or professional field related to mental health or human services;
(6) may not have a household member or immediate family member who participated in a commercial or professional field related to mental health; and
(7) may not have had within two years before appointment a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board.
(f) Four members constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the Board.
(g) The Governor may remove a member of the Board for neglect of duty, malfeasance, incompetence, misconduct, or conviction of a felony, if the procedures for such actions have been fully executed.
(h) Board members shall serve without compensation but must be reimbursed for the inter-island expenses incurred in the performance of official Board business.