(a) The Arkansas Beef Council is created.

(b) (1) The council shall be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate as follows:

(A) Three (3) cattle producer members shall represent the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation and shall be appointed from a list of names submitted by the board of directors of that organization;

(B) Three (3) cattle producer members shall represent the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association and shall be appointed from a list of names submitted by the board of directors of that organization; and

(C) One (1) member shall be an active Arkansas livestock market operator who shall be appointed from the state at large.

(2) Each year, not less than thirty (30) days before the expiration of the terms of the current council members whose terms expire in that year, the organizations named shall submit to the Governor two (2) nominees for each position to be filled on the council from the respective organizations. The Governor shall appoint a succeeding member to the council from each organization's list of nominees.

(3) Each member selected shall serve for a term of three (3) years and until his or her successor is duly selected as provided in this section.

(4) Vacancies in any unexpired term shall be filled by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term. The member appointed to fill the vacancy shall represent the same organization as the person whose term is unexpired.

(c) Members of the council 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 council whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by those officers or specifically designated by the council.

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