KRS 439.320: Parole Board -- Member qualifications, terms, compensation --

Chairperson -- Administrative regulations -- Quorum.

(1) (a) The Governor shall appoint a Parole Board consisting of nine (9) full -time members to be confirmed by the Senate in accordance with KRS 11.160.

(b) The Governor shall make each appointment from a list of three (3) names given to him or her by the Kentucky State Corrections Commission.

(c) Each member appointed to the board shall have had at least five (5) years of actual experience in the field of penology, correction work, law enforcement, sociology, law, education, social work, medicine, or a combination of those fields, or have served at least five (5) years previously on the Parole Board.

(d) No more than six (6) board members shall be of the same political party.

(e) The board shall be attached to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for administrative purposes only. The department shall provide any clerical, stenographic, administrative, and expert staff assista nce the board deems necessary to carry out its duties.

(2) The Governor shall designate one (1) member as chairperson of the board. The member designated as chairperson shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Governor or until his or her term expires.

(3) (a) The members of the board shall give full time to the duties of their office and shall receive necessary traveling expenses and a salary to be determined pursuant to KRS 64.640(2), except the chairperson of the board shall receive additional compensation of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year for his or her services.

(b) The members of the board shall serve for staggered terms of four (4) years and until their successors are appointed and have qualified, so that no more than three (3) terms shall expire in a given year. Their successors shall then be appointed as provided in this section. A vacancy occurring before expiration of the term of office shall be similarly filled for the unexpired term.

(4) The organization of the board shall be determined by the chairperson and shall be consistent with administrative regulations promulgated pursuant to KRS 439.340. For policy and procedural matters, five (5) members shall constitute a quorum.

(5) Parole and final parole revocation hearings may be done by panels of the board, subject to the following requirements:

(a) If a two (2) member panel is utilized, both members of the panel shall agree on a decision;

(b) If a three (3) member panel is utilized, two (2) of the three (3) members of the panel shall agree on a decision; and

(c) If a panel of four (4) or more members is utilized, a majority of the panel shall agree on a decision. In all cases in which the required number of panel members are not in agreement on a decision, the matter shall be referred to the full board.

(6) The Governor may not remove any member of the board except for disability, inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Before removal, the Governor shall give the member a w ritten copy of the charges against him or her and shall fix the time when he or she can be heard in his or her defense, which shall not be less than ten (10) days after receiving the written copy of the charges against him or her. Upon removal, the Governo r shall file in the office of the Secretary of State a complete statement of all charges made against the member and the findings upon the charges with a record of the proceedings.