(a) There is hereby created the Arkansas Deaf and Hearing Impaired Telecommunications Services Corporation.
(b) The corporation shall be governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the Governor as follows:
(1) Three (3) shall be representatives of the deaf and hearing-impaired community; and
(2) Four (4) shall be representatives of Arkansas local exchange carriers.
(c)
(1) The Governor shall appoint one (1) member after consulting representatives of the deaf and hearing-impaired community and one (1) member after consulting representatives of Arkansas local exchange carriers.
(2) Members appointed by the Governor under subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall be subject to confirmation of the Senate.
(d) The initial appointments shall be for such terms as will result in two (2) serving a one-year term, two (2) serving a two-year term, and three (3) serving a three-year term. All successors shall serve three-year terms.
(e) The Governor shall designate one (1) of the board members to preside over the initial meeting of the board, at which meeting the board shall elect a president, a secretary, and such other officers as it deems appropriate.
(f) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, except that no corporate money shall be used for out-of-state travel expenses.
(g) All vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.