(a)

(1) There is created the Drinking Water Advisory and Operator Licensing Committee to consist of seven (7) members to be appointed by the board.

(2) One (1) shall be a member of the staff of the Engineering Section of the Department of Health who shall be a registered engineer and who shall act as executive secretary for the board for water system operator licensing activities, and also act as executive secretary for the committee;

(3) One (1) shall be an engineer on the teaching staff of any state-supported institution of higher education who shall be either a sanitary engineer, civil engineer, environmental engineer, or chemical engineer with expertise in the drinking water field;

(4) Four (4) members shall be active water system operators who shall hold the highest grade licenses;

(5) One (1) member shall be a consulting engineer specializing in drinking water systems design.

(b) Each regular appointment shall be for a term of six (6) years, provided that no person shall be appointed to serve more than one (1) full six-year term.

(c) In the event of a vacancy, a new member shall be appointed by the board to serve out the unexpired term.

(d) A member of the committee may be removed for cause only after the board has made an investigation at which the accused has had an opportunity to defend himself or herself against any and all charges.

(e) The committee shall serve without remuneration but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.

(f) All members of the committee shall be residents of the State of Arkansas.

(g) The member of the committee who is a member of the staff of the Engineering Section of the department shall serve at the pleasure of the Director of the Department of Health.