(a) There is created a board to be known as the Board of the Division of State Services for the Blind, to be constituted as follows:
(1)
(A) The board shall be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(B)
(i) One (1) member shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting each of the following:
(a) The National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas;
(b) The American Council of the Blind of Arkansas;
(c) The Arkansas Lions Clubs Council of Governors, who shall be a member of a member club of the International Association of Lions Clubs within Multiple District Seven for Arkansas;
(d) The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired; and
(e) The Arkansas School for the Blind.
(ii) Appointments made by the Governor under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.
(C) The Governor shall appoint two (2) at-large members.
(D) One (1) or more of the members of the board shall be at least fifty-five (55) years of age.
(E) At least four (4) members of the board shall be blind as defined in § 25-10-202.
(2) Any board member whose term has expired shall continue to serve as a member of the board until the member's successor is appointed and qualified;
(3) All board members shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years, and no person may serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms; and
(4) All vacancies which occur for any reason shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, and any interim appointments shall be limited to the unexpired term of the position vacated. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall meet the qualifications for appointment held by his or her predecessor on the board.
(b) The President of World Services for the Blind, the Superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind, one (1) representative appointed by the American Association of Workers for the Blind of Arkansas, one (1) representative appointed by the Blinded Veterans Association of Arkansas, and one (1) representative appointed by the Arkansas Association of Blind Business Managers shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board. Additional ex officio nonvoting members may be appointed by the Governor at the request of a majority of the board.
(c) Each member or ex officio member appointed to the board, before entering upon the duties of office, shall take the oath prescribed by the Arkansas Constitution for state officers and shall file the oath in the office of the Secretary of State, who shall thereupon issue to the member a certificate of appointment.
(d) Upon recommendation of a majority of the regular board members, the Governor may remove any member of the board at any time for misconduct, incompetency, neglect of duty, or any other good cause as may be determined by the board.
(e) The board members shall not receive compensation for performance of their duties. However, they may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.
(f) After the members of the board have been duly appointed and are serving, the board shall choose a chair from among the regular members as presiding officer, who shall serve for a term of two (2) years. The board shall also elect from among its regular members a vice chair and a secretary, who shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
(g) The board shall meet at least quarterly at those times and places as it may determine from time to time.
(h)
(1) The board shall employ a commissioner, subject to the approval of the Governor, qualified by experience to administer and implement the policies and directives of the board.
(2) The commissioner shall report to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
(3) The board may employ or appoint any additional personnel necessary to carry out the functions, duties, and responsibilities entrusted to the Division of State Services for the Blind in accordance with the requirements of law and within the limits of available appropriations.