(1) There is hereby created the Mississippi State Board of Nursing Home Administrators. This board shall consist of seven (7) persons, in addition to the State Health Officer, or his designee, who shall be an ex-officio member without voting privilege, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, each of whom shall be a qualified elector of the State of Mississippi; the members of said board shall be selected from a list of names submitted to the Governor as provided for hereinafter. In making initial appointments, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years; two (2) members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years; and two (2) members for terms of four (4) years; and until their successors are appointed and qualified; thereafter, the terms of the members of the said board shall be for four (4) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of the occurrence of a vacancy during the term of office of its incumbent, such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term. The members of this board shall include the following:

(a) One (1) educator with expertise in the field of health care and associated at the time of his appointment with an institution of higher learning within the state of Mississippi.

(b) A registered nurse.

(c) A licensed and practicing medical doctor or physician.

(d) Three (3) licensed and practicing nursing home administrators, no more than one (1) of whom shall be from the same Supreme Court district, who shall have had at least five (5) years’ actual experience as a nursing home administrator.

(e) A hospital administrator.

Only the board members who are nursing home administrators may have a direct financial interest in any nursing home.

The Mississippi Nurses Association may submit a list of nominees for the appointment of the registered nurse member; the Mississippi State Medical Association may submit a list of nominees for the appointment of the medical doctor or physician member; the Mississippi Health Care Association and the Mississippi Health Facilities Association may submit lists of nominees for the appointment of the nursing home administrator members; and the Mississippi State Hospital Association may submit a list of nominees for the appointment of the hospital administrator member. Any such list of nominees shall be submitted at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term for each position.

Vacancies occurring on the board shall be filled by appointment by the Governor of individuals having the same prerequisite qualifications as required by this section for the vacancy being filled. The affected group may submit a list of nominees not more than thirty (30) days after a vacancy occurs.

(2) The board shall organize by selecting annually from its members a chairman and a vice-chairman, and may do all things necessary and convenient for carrying into effect the provisions of this chapter and may from time to time promulgate rules and regulations. Each member of the board shall receive a per diem as provided in Section 25-3-69, plus travel and reasonable necessary expenses incidental to the attendance at each meeting as provided in Section 25-3-41. Any member who shall not attend two (2) consecutive meetings of the board shall be subject to removal by the Governor. The chairman of the board shall notify the Governor in writing when any such member has failed to attend two (2) consecutive regular meetings.

(3) The board shall adopt a seal.

(4) The board is hereby authorized to acquire office space and to employ such personnel as shall be necessary in the performance of its duties, including a secretary-treasurer, who shall be bonded in an amount to be fixed by the board, but in no event less than the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).

(5) All fees and any other monies received by the board shall be deposited in a special fund that is created in the State Treasury. The monies in the special fund shall be subject to all provisions of the state budget laws that are applicable to special fund agencies. Any interest earned on this special fund shall be credited by the State Treasurer to the fund and shall not be paid into the State General Fund.