(a) The Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board is created.

(b) (1) The board shall be composed of nine (9) producer members to be appointed by the Governor as follows:

(A) Three (3) members shall represent the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation;

(B) Two (2) members shall represent Riceland Foods, Inc.;

(C) One (1) member shall represent the Agricultural Council of Arkansas;

(D) One (1) member shall represent Producers Rice Mill, Inc.;

(E) One (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Rice Council; and

(F) One (1) member shall represent the independent mills of Arkansas.

(2) All of the nine (9) producer members of the board shall be practical producers of rice in the State of Arkansas and shall be nominated by their respective organizations.

(3) Each year, not less than thirty (30) days before the expiration of the terms of the current board members whose terms expire in that year, the organizations named in subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall submit to the Governor names of two (2) nominees for each position to be filled on the board from the respective organizations, and the Governor shall appoint the new members from each list of nominees.

(4) Each member selected shall serve for a term of two (2) years and until his or her successor is duly selected as provided in this section.

(c) The members of the board shall meet and organize immediately after their appointment and shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary-treasurer from the membership of the board, whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by those officers or specifically designated by the board. All officers shall serve for a period of one (1) year and until their successors are duly elected.

(d) The board may establish rules for its own government and for the administration of affairs of the board.

(e) The resident agent of the board shall be the executive vice president, Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, or his or her designee.