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The Puerto Rico Board of Examiners of Geologists, attached to the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is hereby created for the purpose of ensuring that persons to whom the license to practice the profession of geology in Puerto Rico is granted, do possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the same with the highest sense of professional ability.\nThe Board shall be composed of five (5) members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Three (3) of the members shall be geologists with at least five (5) years of professional practice in Puerto Rico. The members appointed initially shall be registered by the Secretary of State in terms of their training and experience, who shall then grant them their geologist’s license. The following appointments shall rest on geologists who hold a valid license issued by the Board. The two (2) remaining members shall be: one (1) civil engineer, licensed by the Board of Examiners of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, and one (1) chemist licensed by the Board of Examiners of Chemists of Puerto Rico.

e: one (1) civil engineer, licensed by the Board of Examiners of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, and one (1) chemist licensed by the Board of Examiners of Chemists of Puerto Rico. All the members shall be over twenty-one (21) years of age, residents of Puerto Rico on the date of their appointment, and of recognized reputation.\nThe members of the Board shall hold office for a term of four (4) years or until their successors are appointed and take office. Those members of the Board that are initially appointed shall remain in office as follows: one (1) member for the term of one (1) year, two (2) members for the term of two (2) years, one (1) member for the terms of three (3) years, and one (1) member for the term of four (4) years.\nNo member of the Board may be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive terms. However, he/she shall be eligible for a new term after five years from his/her last tenure. Any member of the Board who decides to resign therefrom shall have to notify the Governor, the Department of State and the Board, by certified mail, thirty (30) days before the effective date of such resignation.\nThe Governor of Puerto Rico may dismiss any

all have to notify the Governor, the Department of State and the Board, by certified mail, thirty (30) days before the effective date of such resignation.\nThe Governor of Puerto Rico may dismiss any member of the Board for inefficiency or negligence in the performance of his/her duties, or for any other justified cause, upon prior pressing of charges, notice and hearing. Any resulting vacancy on the Board shall be filled by the Governor through an appointment for the unexpired term of the member who caused the vacancy.\nThe Board shall annually elect from among its members a chairperson, a vicepresident and a secretary, as well as any other officials that are necessary for its functioning.\nHistory —Aug. 23, 1996, No. 163, § 4.