(a) There is created the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers.
(b) The board shall be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, for terms of three (3) years as follows:
(1)
(A) At least four (4) of the members shall be hearing instrument dispensers licensed under this chapter who have held a valid license for at least three (3) years.
(B) The Governor shall consult the Arkansas Hearing Society, Inc., before making an appointment under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section;
(2) At least one (1) member shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in Arkansas and specializing in otology or otolaryngology;
(3) At least one (1) member shall be an audiologist holding a master's degree or doctoral degree in audiology from a recognized college or university; and
(4)
(A) One (1) member shall be appointed from the state at large to represent consumers.
(B) The consumer representative under subdivision (b)(4)(A) of this section shall not be actively engaged in or retired from the practice of dispensing hearing instruments.
(C) The consumer representative under subdivision (b)(4)(A) of this section shall be a full voting member but shall not participate in the grading of examinations.
(c)
(1) All terms shall expire on July 31 of the designated year.
(2) Each member shall serve for the term of his or her appointment and until his or her successor has been appointed and qualified.
(3) No member shall serve more than three (3) full terms consecutively.
(d) In the event of a vacancy on the board, a new member shall be appointed to serve out the unexpired term.
(e) The Governor may remove any member for cause.