(a) There is created the State Board of Disease Intervention Specialists, which shall consist of seven (7) members who shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the employees of the Division of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases of the Department of Health and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
(b)
(1) Members shall be appointed for seven-year terms, except for a person who is appointed to fill out the unexpired term of another member.
(2) The term of office shall expire on January 1 of each year.
(3)
(A) Each year, three (3) candidates shall be submitted by registered disease intervention specialists to the Governor, who shall appoint one (1) to fill the expired term.
(B) The term of office shall be fixed so that one (1) member of the board will be retired each year, and each year three (3) candidates shall be submitted by registered disease intervention specialists to the Governor, who shall appoint one (1) to fill the expired term.
(c)
(1) The appointees shall be registered disease intervention specialists who have been residents in the State of Arkansas for at least one (1) year, have had experience in the field of disease intervention for at least five (5) years, and are presently engaged in the field of disease intervention.
(2) The board members must hold a current certificate of registration issued by the board.
(d) The Governor shall fill any vacancy caused by death, resignation, or removal for the unexpired term.
(e) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq. However, the expenses shall in no case exceed funds available to the board.