§ 259-B — State board of parole; organization

§ 259-b. State board of parole; organization. 1. There shall be in the\ndepartment a state board of parole which shall possess the powers and\nduties hereinafter specified. The board shall function independently of\nthe department regarding all of its decision-making functions, as well\nas any other powers and duties specified in this article, provided,\nhowever, that administrative matters of general applicability within the\ndepartment shall be applicable to the board. Such board shall consist of\nnot more than nineteen members appointed by the governor with the advice\nand consent of the senate. The term of office of each member of such\nboard shall be for six years; provided, however, that any member chosen\nto fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall\nbe appointed for the remainder of the unexpired term of the member whom\nhe is to succeed. In the event of the inability to act of any member,\nthe governor may appoint some competent informed person to act in his\nstead during the continuance of such disability.\n 2. Each member of the board shall either (a) have been awarded a\ndegree from an accredited four-year college or university or a graduate\ndegree from such college or university or accredited graduate school and\nshall have had at least five years of experience in one or more of the\nfields of criminology, administration of criminal justice, law\nenforcement, sociology, law, social work, corrections, psychology,\npsychiatry or medicine; or (b) have at least ten years of experience in\none or more of the fields of criminology, administration of criminal\njustice, law enforcement, sociology, law, social work, corrections,\npsychology, psychiatry or medicine.\n 3. The governor shall designate one of the members of the board as\nchairman to serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the governor or\nuntil the member's term of office expires and a successor is designated\nin accordance with law, whichever first occurs. The chairman shall be\nresponsible for the administrative functions and daily operations of the\nparole board and its staff, except as otherwise provided by law.\n 4. The members of the board shall not hold any other public office;\nnor shall they, at any time of their appointment nor during their\nincumbency, serve as a representative of any political party on an\nexecutive committee or other governing body thereof, nor as an executive\nofficer or employee of any political committee, organization or\nassociation.\n 5. Each member of the board shall receive for his services an annual\nsalary to be fixed by the governor within the amount appropriated\ntherefor. Each member of such board shall also receive his necessary\nexpenses actually incurred in the discharge of his duties.\n 6. Any member of the board may be removed by the governor for cause\nafter an opportunity to be heard.\n 7. Except as otherwise provided by law, a majority of the board shall\nconstitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the board.\n 8. Members of the board shall devote their full time to their duties\nand shall hold no other salaried public position.\n