(a) The board of governors shall consist of seven (7) members, who shall be qualified electors of the county in which the hospital is located and who shall be appointed by the county judge and approved by the quorum court.

(b)

(1) The regular term of office of each member so appointed by the county judge and approved by the quorum court shall begin as of July 1 next following the expiration of the term of his predecessor and shall end on June 30 of the seventh year thereafter; however, the terms of the original members shall be designated and arranged by the county judge so that the term of one (1) member shall expire on June 30 next following the date of his appointment, and the terms of the other members shall expire, respectively, on June 30 of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years thereafter.

(2) Interim appointments shall be for the unexpired term.

(3) Each board member shall hold office after the expiration of his term of office until his successor has been appointed and qualified.

(4) All appointments made to fill vacancies caused by expiration of terms or by death shall be for a period of seven (7) years.

(5) The duty to appoint the initial members of the board and to fill vacancies in case of death, resignation, expiration of terms, or for any other reason shall be that of the county judge with approval of the quorum court.

(c)

(1) In any county in which there are two (2) county-owned hospitals under the management, control, and direction of a single board of governors, the membership of the board of governors for those hospitals may be increased to eight (8) members, by ordinance of the quorum court.

(2) When a county hospital board of governors is increased to eight (8) members as authorized in this subsection, the additional member of the board shall be appointed in the same manner, shall possess the same qualifications, shall have the same authority and responsibility, and shall be subject to removal for cause as other members of the board.

(3) When the membership of a board is increased to eight (8) members, the person first appointed to fill the additional position shall be appointed for a term of eight (8) years, and thereafter all successor appointments to the board shall be for terms of eight (8) years in such manner that the term of one (1) member of the board shall expire each year.

(d) In the event of misconduct or refusal to act, any member of the board may be removed for cause.

(e) The board of governors shall be an honorary board, and its members shall receive no compensation for their services, nor shall they be liable individually for any civil damages arising out of the operation of the hospital.