(a) The State Commission on Family Violence shall consist of 37 members:

(1) Three ex officio members shall be the director of the Division of Family and Children Services, the director of Women's Health Services in the division of public health of the Department of Human Resources, and the Attorney General;

(2) Three members shall be members of the House of Representatives and shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(3) Three members shall be members of the Senate and shall be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) The remaining members shall be appointed by the Governor as follows:

(A) One judge from each judicial administrative district;

(B) Three advocates for battered women recommended by groups which have addressed the problem of family violence;

(C) One person with expertise and interest regarding family violence involving persons who are 60 years of age or older;

(D) One person with expertise and interest regarding family violence involving children; and

(E) One representative from each of the following:

(i) The Administrative Office of the Courts;

(ii) The Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council;

(iii) The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police;

(iv) The District Attorneys Association of Georgia;

(v) The State Board of Pardons and Paroles;

(vi) The probation system;

(vii) The Georgia Sheriffs' Association;

(viii) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council;

(ix) The Solicitors Association of Georgia;

(x) The legal aid community;

(xi) The academic community;

(xii) Men Stopping Violence; and

(xiii) A former victim of domestic violence.

(b) The Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate shall appoint individuals who are specially qualified to serve on the commission by reason of their experience and knowledge of family violence issues.

(c) Members serving on July 1, 1996, or persons appointed to complete the unexpired terms of members serving on July 1, 1996, shall complete the terms for which they were appointed. The term of appointment shall be three years for initial successors to members appointed in accordance with the following provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section: paragraph (2) and divisions (ii), (iv), (vi), (viii), (x), and (xii) of subparagraph (E) of paragraph (4). The term of appointment shall be three years for the initial members appointed in accordance with subparagraphs (a)(4)(C) and (a)(4)(D) of this Code section. Initial successors to judicial members appointed to represent even-numbered judicial administrative districts shall be appointed for terms of three years. Two of the initial successors for members appointed in accordance with subparagraph (a)(4)(B) this Code section shall be appointed for terms of three years. The term of appointment shall be two years for initial successors to all other members except those serving ex officio. The letter of appointment shall set out the term for which each member is appointed. Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a term of two years, and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms. All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by an appointee of the original appointing official.

(d) The commission shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, and a secretary from among its members for terms of two years, and any member shall be eligible for successive election to such office by the commission.