(a) Establishment.--The Environmental Hearing Board Rules Committee is established. The rules committee shall consist of nine attorneys who are in good standing before the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and who have practiced before the board for a minimum of three years or who have comparable experience. One member shall be appointed by the President pro tempore and one member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate. One member shall be appointed by the Speaker and one member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. One member shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Council to the department. Two members shall be appointed by the Governor, upon the advice of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Two members shall be appointed by the secretary. The initial appointments of the Governor and the secretary shall serve terms of one year; the initial appointments of the President pro tempore and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Chairperson of the Citizens Advisory Council shall serve terms of two years commencing three months after the effective date of this act. Thereafter, members of the rules committee shall serve terms of two years and may be reappointed for additional terms. Such vacancies as may arise shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The chairperson of the board shall be a member of the committee ex officio.

(b) Expenses.--The board shall reimburse members of the rules committee for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in attending rules committee meetings.

(c) Function.--The rules committee shall recommend to the board regulations for hearings conducted by the board and for the use of mediation under section 4(h). The regulations shall include time limits and procedure for the taking of appeals and locations of hearings. Regulations under this subsection shall be promulgated by the board upon a majority affirmative vote on the recommended regulations.

(d) Bylaws.--The rules committee shall adopt bylaws to govern the conduct of its affairs.