(a) There is created a Commission on Water Well Construction which shall exercise its duties as provided by this chapter.

(b) The commission shall consist of seven (7) members, composed of:

(1) The Director of the Department of Health or his or her designated representative;

(2) The Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission or his or her designated representative;

(3)

(A) One (1) person engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, or supplying heat pumps which require heat pump water wells.

(B) The person shall be recommended by the Arkansas Heat Pump Association or the EnviroEnergy Group or another groundwater source industry association.

(C) The person shall be a licensed HVACR contractor under § 17-33-101 et seq., and shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; and

(4)

(A) Four (4) persons who are, by trade, water well drillers.

(B) The water well drilling members shall be:

(i) Two (2) water well drillers whose principal place of business is southeast of the fall line in Arkansas, and who are actively engaged in the construction of water wells and pump installation in the Mississippi Embayment or Gulf Coastal Plain as represented on the geologic map of Arkansas; and

(ii) Two (2) water well drillers whose principal place of business is northwest of the fall line in Arkansas and who are actively engaged in the construction of water wells and pump installation business in the Ozark Region, Arkansas River Valley, or Ouachita Mountain Region as represented on the geologic map of Arkansas.

(C) These members shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate and shall be certified under the provisions of §§ 17-50-301 and 17-50-302.

(D) No person may be appointed as a water well driller member of the commission unless his or her principal place of business is at least twenty (20) miles in a straight line from any other water well driller members.

(c) Terms of office shall commence on January 15 and shall end on January 14 of the fifth year following the year in which the term commenced.

(d) Any vacancies arising on the membership of the commission for any reason other than expiration of the regular terms for which the members were appointed shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, to be effective until the expiration of the regular terms, subject, however, to the confirmation of the Senate when it is next in session.

(e) The five (5) business and trade members of the commission may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.