Sec. 1. (a) There is hereby created the worker’s compensation board of Indiana, which shall consist of seven (7) members, not more than four (4) of whom shall belong to the same political party, appointed by the governor, one (1) of whom the governor shall designate as chairman. All members of the board shall be attorneys in good standing admitted to the practice of law in Indiana.

     (b) Each member of said board shall hold office for four (4) years and until the member’s successor is appointed and qualified.

     (c) No member of the board shall hold any other position of trust or profit or engage in any occupation or business interfering with or inconsistent with the discharge of the member’s duties.

     (d) Any member of said board may be removed by the governor at any time for incompetency, neglect of duty, misconduct in office, or other good cause to be stated in writing in the order of removal. In case of a vacancy in the membership of the said board, the governor shall appoint for the unexpired term.

     (e) The budget agency, with the approval of the governor, shall approve the salaries of the members of the board and the secretary.

     (f) The board may appoint an executive administrator and may remove the executive administrator. The executive administrator shall have authority to administer oaths and issue subpoenas in connection with the administration of IC 22-3-2 through IC 22-3-7.

     (g) The board, subject to the approval of the governor, may employ and fix the compensations of such clerical and other assistants as it may deem necessary.

     (h) The members of the board and its assistants shall be entitled to receive from the state their actual and necessary expenses while traveling on the business of the board, but such expenses shall be approved by the chairman of the board before payment is made.

     (i) All salaries and expenses of the board shall be audited and paid out of the state treasury in the manner prescribed for similar expenses in other departments or branches of the state service.

Formerly: Acts 1937, c.34, s.4 1/2; Acts 1943, c.138, s.1; Acts 1945, c.354, s.1; Acts 1961, c.219, s.1; Acts 1967, c.299, s.1; Acts 1974, P.L.108, SEC.1. As amended by P.L.144-1986, SEC.21; P.L.28-1988, SEC.18; P.L.134-2006, SEC.1; P.L.168-2011, SEC.1.