(a) The council consists of

(1) four public members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be from a rural area; the governor may consult with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, a nonprofit corporation, in appointing the public members under this paragraph; the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault shall submit a list to the governor of persons recommended for appointment;

(2) the commissioner of public safety or the designee of the commissioner of public safety;

(3) the commissioner of health and social services or the designee of the commissioner of health and social services;

(4) the commissioner of education and early development or the designee of the commissioner of education and early development;

(5) the attorney general or the designee of the attorney general; and

(6) the commissioner of corrections or the designee of the commissioner of corrections.

(b) The term of office of a public member appointed under (a)(1) of this section is three years. A public member appointed under (a)(1) of this section serves at the pleasure of the governor and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. A vacancy on the council shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the governor. The governor may consult with the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault on an appointment of a public member made under this subsection.

(c) A person who receives compensation from or is an employee of the State of Alaska or a domestic violence, sexual assault, or crisis intervention or prevention program may not be appointed as a public member of the council.

(d) In this section, “rural area” means a community with a population of 7,500 or less that is not connected by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks or with a population of 3,500 or less that is connected by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks.