(a) As the terms of members of the Board of Governors provided for in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-5 expire, their successors shall be elected by the Senate and House of Representatives. Twelve members shall be elected at the regular legislative session in 2017 and every two years thereafter. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each elect one-half of the persons necessary to fill the vacancies on the Board of Governors.

(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2001-503, s. 1, effective December 19, 2001.

(c) In electing members to the Board of Governors, the Senate and the House of Representatives shall select from a slate of candidates made in each house. The slate shall be prepared as provided by resolution of each house. If a sufficient number of nominees who are legally qualified are submitted, then the slate of candidates shall list at least twice the number of candidates for the total seats open. All qualified candidates shall compete against all other qualified candidates. In 1993 and biennially thereafter, each house shall hold their elections within 30 legislative days after appointments to their education committees are complete.

(d) All terms shall commence on July 1 of odd-numbered years and all members shall serve for four-year overlapping terms.

(e) Beginning with elections held on or after January 1, 2017, no person may be elected to more than three full four-year terms. Election for a partial term to fill a vacancy as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-7 shall not count toward the three-term limitation.

(f) Any person who has served at least one full term as chairman of the Board of Governors shall be a member emeritus of the Board of Governors for one four-year term beginning at the expiration of that member’s regular elected term. Any person already serving as an emeritus member may serve an additional four-year term beginning July 1, 1991. Members emeriti have all the rights and privileges of membership except they do not have a vote.

(g) Effective July 1, 1991, and thereafter, any person who has served at least one term as a member of the Board of Governors after having served as Governor of North Carolina shall be a member emeritus of the Board of Governors, with all the rights and privileges of membership as in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-6(f). (1971, c. 1244, s. 1; 1987, c. 228; 1989, c. 274; 1991, c. 220, ss. 2, 3; c. 436, s. 1; 2001-503, s. 1; 2015-300, s. 1; 2017-1, s. 1.)