(a)
(1) There is hereby created the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors to be composed of thirteen (13) members who shall be appointed by the Governor.
(2) Two (2) of the initial members shall be alcoholism and drug abuse counselors certified by the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board who are licensed under the provisions of this subchapter and who have rendered service, education, or research in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling for at least five (5) years. Their successors shall be alcoholism and drug abuse counselors licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors who have rendered service, education, or research in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling for at least two (2) years.
(3) Four (4) of the initial members shall be alcoholism and drug abuse counselors certified by the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board who are licensed under the provisions of this subchapter and who have rendered service, education, or research in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling for at least two (2) years. Their successors shall be alcoholism and drug abuse counselors licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors who have rendered service, education, or research in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling for at least five (5) years.
(4) Four (4) of the initial members shall be alcoholism and drug abuse counselors certified by the Arkansas Substance Abuse Certification Board who are licensed under the provisions of this subchapter and who engage in the independent practice of alcoholism and drug abuse counseling. Their successors shall be alcoholism and drug abuse counselors licensed by the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors who have rendered service, education, or research in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling for at least five (5) years.
(5) One (1) member shall be licensed by an Arkansas health or behavioral sciences board and hold a specialty in alcohol and drug abuse counseling or addiction and a current license from his or her licensing boards.
(6) One (1) member shall be a licensed professional counselor with a specialty in alcohol and drug abuse counseling or addiction.
(7) One (1) member shall be a citizen at large who is not associated with or financially interested in the practice or business regulated.
(b) The initial members of the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors shall be appointed so that three (3) members serve a one-year term, three (3) members serve a two-year term, three (3) members serve a three-year term, and four (4) members serve a four-year term. Successor members shall serve four-year terms except that persons appointed to fill vacancies resulting in an unexpired term shall serve for the remainder of that unexpired term.
(c) Upon the recommendation of the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors made after notice and hearing, the Governor may remove any member of the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
(d) Any vacancy on the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors shall be filled by the Governor.
(e) The Governor shall call the first board meeting and designate a member to preside at that meeting. The State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors shall elect annually from its membership a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary. The State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors shall meet as frequently as it deems necessary, at such times and places as the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors designates. Additional meetings may be held upon the call of the chair or upon the written request of five (5) members of the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.
(f) Seven (7) members of the State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors shall constitute a quorum.