(a) The Governor shall appoint a minimum of nine persons to serve on the Board of Home Medical Equipment, such persons to include a majority who are employed in the home medical equipment industry, and at least one person from each of the following categories: A consumer of home medical equipment services, a physician, a representative from the acute-care hospital community, and a representative from the home health agency community. Those persons employed in the home medical equipment industry shall be selected from a list submitted by the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association, or its successor. The consumer member shall be selected from a list of names submitted by the Governor's Office on Disability, or its successor. The physician member shall be selected from a list of names submitted by the Medical Association of Alabama, or its successor. The acute-care hospital community member shall be selected from a list submitted by the Alabama Hospital Association, or its successor. The home health agency community member shall be selected from a list of names submitted by the Home Care Association of Alabama, or its successor. All lists submitted for nominations shall include at least two names for each appointed position to be filled. Board members shall each be citizens of this state and shall have no record of sanctions related to fraud under federal or state law. The membership of the board shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(b) The initial members appointed to the board shall serve for terms of three to five years, with one-third of the board being replaced each year, beginning in year four. Thereafter, subsequent appointments shall be for a term of four years. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms of office. An appointment shall end on October 1, four years from the date of the last term, and each member shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed by the Governor.

(c) Members of the board shall not be entitled to compensation for service, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel and meeting expenses, according to a budget developed and approved by the board.

(d) The board shall have the responsibility for creating, establishing, maintaining, and enforcing regulations governing the operation of home medical equipment services providers, including the qualifications of inspectors, the nature of inspections, and the process for appeals.

(e) Whenever a vacancy occurs on the board due to the death or resignation of a currently appointed board member, or other like cause, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term of the member, as provided under subsection (b). If a vacancy occurs among those members who are employed in the home medical equipment industry, the appointment shall be made from a list submitted by the Alabama Durable Medical Equipment Association or its successor.

(f) At the request of the board, the Governor may remove a member for failing to attend three consecutive and properly noticed meetings. The Governor may also remove a board member for any of the following reasons:

(1) Misfeasance.

(2) Malfeasance.

(3) Neglect of duty.

(4) Conviction of a felony.

(5) Permanent inability to perform official duties.

(g) The board may hire personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. With the exception of the executive director, all personnel shall be subject to the provisions of the state Merit System Act.

(h) The board shall adopt a seal, which shall be affixed to all licenses issued by the board, and shall have all other powers necessary and proper for performing official duties.

(i) The board may establish and charge reasonable fees relating to the administration and enforcement of this chapter including, but not limited to, application, processing, copying, mailing, filing, and other fees as necessary to offset costs.

(j) Absent negligence, recklessness, wantonness, or deliberate misconduct, members of the board are immune from liability for all good faith acts performed in the exercise of their duties as members of the board.