(a) There is created the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy. The board shall consist of five members who are citizens of this state and appointed by the Governor. In appointing members to the board, the Governor shall select those persons whose appointments would ensure that, to the extent possible, the membership of the board reflects the geographic, gender, and racial diversity of the state as a whole. The board shall perform the duties and have the powers as prescribed and conferred by this chapter. No member of the board shall be civilly liable for any act performed in good faith for the performance of his or her duties as a member of the board.

(b) The professional membership of the board shall be licensed pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Vacancies on the board shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members of the board shall serve until their successors are appointed and have qualified. Board members shall be ineligible for reappointment for a period of three years following completion of their five-year term.

(d) Appointments to the board shall be made by the Governor as provided in this subsection. Not later than October 1 of each year, the Board of Directors of the Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy shall submit to the Governor the names of two qualified candidates for each position on the board to be vacated by reason of expiration of a term of office. From the two candidates, the Governor shall appoint one member to serve on the board for a term of five years. Other vacancies occurring on the board shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the Governor from two candidates for each vacancy submitted by the Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy within 30 days after the vacancy occurs. Composition of the board shall consist of one public member, one marriage and family therapy educator, and three practicing marriage and family therapists.

(e) The Governor may remove a member of the board only for neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude while in office. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member may be removed until after a public hearing of the charges against him or her, and at least 30 days' prior written notice to the accused member of the charges against him or her and of the date fixed for the hearing. No board member shall participate in any matter before the board in which he or she has a pecuniary interest, personal bias, or other similar conflict of interest.