(1) There is established the Mississippi Council of Advisors in Dietetics under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi State Board of Health.

(2) The council shall be comprised of seven (7) members of whom five (5) shall be dietitians who have been engaged in the practice of dietetics for at least three (3) years immediately preceding their appointment. Members of the council shall be licensed to practice dietetics. The following areas of practice shall be represented by council members: administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, dietetic education, community nutrition and consultation and private practice. The remaining two (2) members shall be a licensed member of the health professions and a member of the public with an interest in the rights of the consumers of health services.

(3) A person is eligible for appointment as a public member if the person or the person’s spouse:

(a) Is not employed by and does not participate in the management of an agency or business entity that provides health care services or that sells, manufactures or distributes health care supplies or equipment; and

(b) Does not own, control or have a direct or indirect interest in more than ten percent (10%) of a business entity that provides health care services or that sells, manufactures or distributes health care supplies or equipment.

(4) Appointments to the advisory council shall be made without regard to race, creed, sex, religion or national origin of the appointees.

(5) The board shall, within sixty (60) days after passage of this chapter, appoint two (2) advisory council members for a term of one (1) year, two (2) for a term of two (2) years, and three (3) for a term of three (3) years. Appointments made thereafter shall be for three-year terms, but no person shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

(6) Terms shall begin on the first day of the calendar year and end on the last day of the calendar year or until successors are appointed, except for the first appointed members who shall serve through the last calendar day of the year in which they are appointed before commencing the terms prescribed by this section.

(7) Not less than sixty (60) days before the end of each calendar year, the Mississippi Dietetic Association shall submit the names of at least two (2) persons for each dietitian vacancy and each of the health professional and public member appointments.

(8) In the event of a vacancy, the board shall, as soon as possible, appoint a person who shall fill the unexpired term.

(9) The council shall meet during the first month of each calendar year to select a chairman and for other appropriate purposes. At least one (1) additional meeting shall be held before the end of each calendar year. Further meetings may be convened at the call of the chairman or the written request of a majority of the council members, or at the request of the board.

(10) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.