(a) The Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy shall consist of eight (8) members, appointed by the Governor for terms of six (6) years:

(1) Five (5) members shall be experienced pharmacists who have been actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy for the last five (5) years immediately preceding their appointments, to be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Pharmacists Association and subject to confirmation by the Senate;

(2) One (1) member shall be a minority who is a licensed practicing pharmacist in this state, to be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Pharmaceutical Section of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association and subject to confirmation by the Senate; and

(3)

(A) Two (2) members of the board shall not be actively engaged in or retired from the practice of pharmacy. One (1) member shall represent consumers, and one (1) member shall be sixty (60) years of age or older and shall represent the elderly. Both shall be appointed from the state at large, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Both shall be full voting members but shall not participate in the grading of examinations.

(B) The two (2) positions shall not be held by the same person.

(b) A member shall hold his or her office until his or her successor shall have been appointed and qualified.

(c)

(1) In case of a vacancy from death or other cause, the Governor shall appoint a successor with qualifications as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.

(2) In the event that a vacancy exists in the minority position due to death, resignation, or other cause, a successor member to the position shall be appointed by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as is provided for the initial appointment.

(d) In order to appropriately stagger the terms of the pharmacist members, the term of the minority pharmacist member serving on January 1, 1999, is extended to eight (8) years. Thereafter, the term of the minority pharmacist member shall be six (6) years.