(a) The State Board of Health shall consist of the following members, to be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate as follows:
(1)
(A) Seven (7) members of the board shall be licensed medical doctors of good professional standing, to be appointed by the Governor as follows:
(i) One (1) member shall be appointed from each of the four (4) congressional districts of this state as established by § 7-2-101 et seq.; and
(ii) Three (3) members shall be appointed from the state at large by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Medical Society, Inc.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a)(1)(A) of this section, at least one (1) of the positions allocated for licensed medical doctors shall be an osteopathic physician appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association from the state at large;
(2) One (1) member shall be a regularly licensed, registered, and practicing dentist who has at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of his or her profession in this state. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas State Dental Association;
(3) One (1) member shall be a professional engineer as defined in § 17-30-101 who has at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of his or her profession in this state. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting The Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers;
(4) One (1) member shall be a regularly licensed professional nurse who has been a resident of the state for at least seven (7) years preceding the appointment and who has at least a bachelor's degree and five (5) years' nursing experience in the state. This member shall be appointed from a list by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Nurses Association;
(5) One (1) member shall be a regularly licensed pharmacist who has been actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy for at least seven (7) years preceding his or her appointment. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Pharmacist's Association;
(6) One (1) member shall be a regularly licensed veterinarian who has been actively engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine for at least seven (7) years preceding his or her appointment. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association;
(7) One (1) member shall be a registered sanitarian who has at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of his or her profession preceding his or her appointment. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas State Board of Sanitarians;
(8) One (1) member shall be a hospital administrator who has at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of his or her profession in Arkansas. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Hospital Association, Inc.;
(9) One (1) member shall be a regularly licensed, registered, and practicing optometrist who has at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of his or her profession in this state. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Optometric Association, Inc.;
(10) One (1) member shall be a regularly licensed and practicing chiropractor. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Chiropractic Physicians Association;
(11) One (1) member shall be a restaurant operator who has owned or operated a restaurant for a minimum of five (5) years. This member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Hospitality Association, Inc.;
(12) One (1) member shall be a consumer representative who has an interest in public health. This member shall be appointed by the Governor from the state at large;
(13) One (1) member shall be more than sixty (60) years of age and represent the elderly. This person shall not be actively engaged in or retired from any occupation, profession, or industry to be regulated by the board. The member shall be appointed by the Governor from the state at large and be subject to confirmation by the Senate;
(14) One (1) member shall be a licensed doctor of podiatric medicine of good professional standing who has at least seven (7) years' experience in the practice of the profession in this state. The member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Podiatric Medical Association Inc.;
(15) One (1) member shall be a member of the Arkansas Public Health Association, Inc. The member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Public Health Association, Inc.;
(16) One (1) member shall be a licensed medical doctor of good professional standing who shall be appointed by the Governor from a rural county that contains a medically underserved population in the state; and
(17) One (1) member shall be the Secretary of the Department of Health.
(b) Each of the members of the board so appointed shall take the oath prescribed by the Arkansas Constitution for state officers and shall be commissioned by the Governor in the same manner as other state officials.