(a) The commissioner of public health shall appoint a Kidney Disease Advisory Committee, hereinafter referred to as KDAC, to advise the department in the administration of this chapter. The KDAC shall recommend priorities and relative budgets for the various purposes of this chapter as described below.

(b) The KDAC shall consist of 15 members appointed by the commissioner as follows:

(1) Four members shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of eight names submitted to him by the presidents of the medical colleges located within Georgia, both public and private, and at least one such member shall be appointed from each of the medical colleges located within Georgia;

(2) Two members shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of four names submitted to him by the chief executive officers of the hospitals located within Georgia which provide chronic dialysis and kidney transplantation services;

(3) One member shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of two names submitted to him by the Medical Association of Georgia, and one member shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of two names submitted to him by the Georgia State Medical Association;

(4) One member shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of two names submitted to him by the Kidney Foundation of Georgia;

(5) One member shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of two names submitted to him by the Georgia Claims Association and the Health Insurance Council;

(6) One member shall be appointed by the commissioner from a list of two names submitted to him by the director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency; and

(7) Four members shall be selected by the commissioner from the general public.

(c) The persons whose names are submitted to the commissioner by the medical colleges, the hospitals, the Medical Association of Georgia, and the Georgia State Medical Association shall all be physicians licensed to practice medicine under the laws of Georgia, and the persons whose names are submitted by the Medical Association of Georgia shall be actively engaged in the practice of medicine.

(d) The commissioner shall appoint members for terms such that the terms of four members shall expire each year, except that every fourth year the terms of three members shall expire, in such manner that after the initial terms all members will serve for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified. In making initial appointments, the commissioner shall adjust initial terms so as to achieve the staggered terms specified by the preceding sentence. In the event of a vacancy for any reason, the commissioner shall fill said vacancy for the unexpired term in the same manner that other appointments are made.

(e) The KDAC shall meet as often as the commissioner deems necessary but not less than twice each year. The members of the KDAC shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out their duties as members thereof.