(a) There is established the State Children's Trust Fund Commission which is assigned to the Department of Human Resources for administrative purposes only, as prescribed in Code Section 50-4-3.

(b) The State Children's Trust Fund Commission shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Members shall be appointed for terms of four years. State officers or employees may be appointed to the commission unless otherwise prohibited by law; provided, however, that one citizen member shall be appointed from each congressional district. As a group, the citizen members shall demonstrate knowledge in the area of child abuse and neglect prevention and, to the extent practicable, shall represent private nonprofit agencies or individual professions which have special expertise or community involvement specifically in the area of child abuse prevention, professional providers of child abuse and neglect prevention services, and volunteers in child abuse and neglect prevention services.

(c) In the event of death, resignation, disqualification, or removal for any reason of any member of the commission, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and the successor shall serve for the unexpired term.

(d) Reserved.

(e) Membership on the commission does not constitute public office and no member shall be disqualified from holding public office by reason of his membership.

(f) The Governor shall designate a chairperson of the commission from among the members, which chairperson shall serve in that position at the pleasure of the Governor. The commission may elect such other officers and committees as it considers appropriate.

(g) The commission, with the approval of the Governor, may employ such professional, technical, or clerical personnel as deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Such personnel may be members of the classified service of the State Merit System of Personnel Administration as defined in paragraph (2) of Code Section 45-20-2.