(a) There is created the State Board of Nursing Home Administrators, which shall consist of 13 members, none of whom may be employees of the United States government or of this state, and the commissioner of human resources or his designee, who shall serve as ex officio member of the board, and the commissioner of community health or his designee, who shall serve as ex officio member of the board. The members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, as follows:

(1) One member who is a licensed medical doctor in this state and who is not a nursing home administrator or pecuniarily interested in any nursing home;

(2) One member who is a registered nurse in this state and who is not a nursing home administrator or pecuniarily interested in any nursing home;

(3) One member who is an educator with a graduate degree and specializing in the field of gerontology and who is not a nursing home administrator or pecuniarily interested in any nursing home;

(4) Three members of the public at large who are not nursing home administrators or pecuniarily interested in any nursing home or have any connection with the nursing home industry whatsoever. Two of these three public-at-large positions shall be appointed from a list of three persons for each of these two positions submitted by the Board of Human Resources. The Governor is vested with complete discretion in appointing the third member for one of these three public-at-large positions;

(5) One member who is a hospital administrator in this state, who is the holder of a master's degree in hospital administration, and who is not a nursing home administrator or pecuniarily interested in any nursing home; and

(6) Six members, at least one of whom shall represent nonproprietary nursing homes, who are licensed nursing home administrators in this state.

(b) The term for all members shall be three years from the date of appointment. A member may be removed as provided in Code Section 43-1-17. All vacancies shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired terms in accordance with the requirements for appointment to the vacant position.