A. The governor may remove any member of the board for misconduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty. Vacancies in the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor, as provided in R.S. 37:683. Before the governor can remove a member for cause, he must serve the member with a written statement of charges against him and afford him an opportunity to be heard publicly on such charges. If the member thus served does not request a public hearing within ten days after service, the governor may proceed with his removal. If the member does request such a public hearing, it shall be heard by a special committee composed of three persons as follows:
(1)(a) If the member requesting the hearing is a professional engineer, a professional engineer appointed by the president of the Louisiana Engineering Society shall serve on the committee and shall be the chairman.
(b) If the member requesting the hearing is a professional land surveyor, a professional land surveyor appointed by the president of the Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors shall serve on the committee and shall be the chairman.
(2) Two deans from Louisiana colleges of engineering that have Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., approved curricula to be chosen by the board.
B. The recommendation of this committee shall be binding upon the governor. A copy of the charges, a transcript of the record of the hearing, and a copy of the recommendation shall be filed with the secretary of state.