2-15-1763. Board of professional engineers and professional land surveyors. (1) There is a board of professional engineers and professional land surveyors.

(2) The board consists of nine members appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. The members are:

(a) five professional engineers who have been engaged in the practice of engineering for at least 12 years and who have been in responsible charge of engineering teaching or important engineering work for at least 5 years and licensed in Montana for at least 5 years. No more than two of these members may be from the same branch of engineering.

(b) two professional and practicing land surveyors who have been engaged in the practice of land surveying for at least 12 years and who have been in responsible charge of land surveying or important land surveying work for at least 5 years and licensed in Montana for at least 5 years;

(c) two representatives of the public who are not engaged in or directly connected with the practice of engineering or land surveying.

(3) Each member must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state. A member, after serving three consecutive terms, may not be reappointed.

(4) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4)(b), each member shall serve for a term of 4 years.

(b) The governor may remove a member for misconduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty or for any other sufficient cause and may shorten the term of one public member so that it is not coincident with the term of the other public member.

(5) The board is allocated to the department for administrative purposes only, as prescribed in 2-15-121.