(a) The State Merit Award Board, referred to as the Board in this article 4 of these regulations, will consist of five members.

(b) Membership. A representative of the Department, to be designated by the Director, shall be ex officio a voting member of the Board and shall serve as chair. The Director shall appoint the four other members including a public member.

(c) Term of Office. Members of the Board shall hold office until their resignation or until their successors are appointed.

(d) Meetings. Board meetings shall be held on a regular basis with dates and time to be determined by the chair. Meetings shall be public and interested persons shall be given reasonable opportunity to be heard.

(e) Quorum. A majority of the members of the Board constitutes a quorum. A majority vote is required to carry an official action.

(f) Minutes. A record of the Board's official actions.

(g) The Board shall be responsible for the review of all award recommendations for suggestions adopted by multiple agencies, and for adopted suggestions that were submitted prior to January 1, 1993.

(h) The Board shall review and recommend to the Department all employee suggestions that justify total cash awards greater than $5,000. Upon the approval of the Department, an award of $5,000 shall be made to the suggester and the remaining portion shall be submitted for subsequent approval by concurrence of the Legislature.

(i) The Board shall be responsible for the review of suggestions referred to the Department by an agency or suggester when a disagreement exists which cannot be resolved by the agency director or designee or by the Merit Award Program. In these cases, the Board shall review and recommend to the Department its resolution to the disagreement, and the decision by the Department will be considered final.