(a) There is created the State Board of Accountancy.

(b) The board shall consist of seven members, to be appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate. Each member of the board shall be a resident of this state. Five members of the board shall be certified public accountants, and one member shall be a registered public accountant, all of whom shall hold a permit to practice public accounting issued under Code Section 43-3-24. One member shall be appointed from the public at large and shall be a person to whom neither this state nor any other state has ever issued a certificate, registration, license, or permit to engage in the practice of public accounting.

(c) Each member of the board in office on July 1, 1982, shall remain in office until the expiration of his term and the appointment and approval of his successor.

(d) Any appointment or reappointment of board members shall be for a period of four years. The remaining portion of any unexpired term shall be filled by appointment by the Governor with the approval of the Senate. Upon the expiration of his term of office, a member shall continue to serve until his successor shall have been appointed and shall have qualified.

(e) No member of the board shall serve as such for more than two terms, consecutive or otherwise; and, for purposes of calculating the number of terms served, the filling of an unexpired term or terms for a total of more than 30 calendar months shall be treated as the serving of a full term.

(f) Any member of the board may be removed by the Governor for misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty. The membership on the board of any member whose permit to practice has expired and has not been renewed, has become void, or has been revoked or suspended shall be automatically terminated simultaneously with any such expiration, voiding, revocation, or suspension.

(g) Each member of the board shall be reimbursed as provided for in subsection (f) of Code Section 43-1-2.