(a) The Governor of Alabama shall appoint a State Board of Podiatry consisting of seven persons, each of whom shall be a citizen of the United States and of Alabama, over the age of 25, and shall have been engaged in the actual continuous practice of podiatry in the State of Alabama for at least five years next preceding his or her appointment. One member of the board shall be appointed each year, with the exception of three members being appointed every fifth year starting in 1979, for terms of five years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. No member of the board shall be reappointed for a successive term. Previous board members are eligible for nonsuccessive appointments. The Governor may remove from office at any time any member of the board for neglect of duty, incompetency, improper or unprofessional conduct, or when the license or certificate of any member has been suspended or revoked. Vacancies on the board shall be filled by appointment by the Governor in the manner provided in this section. The Governor shall furnish each member of the board at the time of appointment a certificate of appointment, and the appointee shall qualify by taking the usual oath of office before the judge of probate of his or her home county within 15 days from the date of appointment.

(b) After April 6, 1993, each vacant office occurring shall be first offered to each available black licensee until a black member is appointed to the board. When a black member is appointed to the board, thereafter appointments shall be made in such a manner as to ensure at least one black member on the board at all times, and the membership of the board shall be inclusive and reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.