(a) (1) The Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas shall be composed of ten (10) members appointed by the Governor:

(A) One (1) member shall be a resident of Mississippi County;

(B) One (1) member shall be a resident of Crittenden County;

(C) One (1) member shall be a resident of St. Francis County;

(D) One (1) member shall be a resident of Lee County;

(E) One (1) member shall be a resident of Phillips County;

(F) One (1) member shall be a resident of Monroe County;

(G) One (1) member shall be a resident of Arkansas County;

(H) One (1) member shall be a resident of Desha County;

(I) One (1) member shall be a resident of Drew County; and

(J) One (1) member shall be a resident of Chicot County.

(2) All members shall be appointed for terms of five (5) years.

(b)

(1) Any person who has served, is now serving, or serves in the future as a member of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas, as established by this subchapter, who has served or serves twenty (20) years as a member of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas, and as pilot or president of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, shall, from and after February 3, 1983, be known and designated as a "commissioner emeritus".

(2) A commissioner emeritus shall serve as a member of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas for the remainder of his or her life and shall be notified of all Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas meetings and is entitled to the same expenses and other allowances for attending Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas meetings as is provided by law for other Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas members.

(3) The Governor of the State of Arkansas shall cause an appropriate commission to be prepared and issued to each commissioner emeritus of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas, who shall file it with the Secretary of State and take the official oath of office before entering upon his or her duties as a commissioner emeritus of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas.

(c) Immediately upon making any appointment to the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas, the Governor making the appointment shall notify the Mississippi River Parkway Planning Commission, hereinafter called the national commission, giving the names and addresses of the member or members so appointed.

(d)

(1) Members of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas shall not receive compensation for their services but may receive expense reimbursement as provided in § 25-16-901 et seq.

(2) These expenses shall be paid upon claims for reimbursement approved by the chair of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas.