(1) A Board of Veterinary Medicine shall be appointed by the Governor and shall consist of five (5) licensed veterinarians, with at least one (1) member from each of the Supreme Court districts of the state and not more than two (2) members from the same Supreme Court district. All members of the Board of Veterinary Medicine shall be veterinarians who have practiced in this state for a period of not less than five (5) years and shall be graduates of a school of veterinary medicine recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Appointments shall be for a five-year term or to fill an unexpired term. The Governor shall fill all vacancies on the board as they shall occur by appointment from a list of three (3) eligible veterinarians submitted by the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association for each vacancy. If the vacancy to be filled is caused by expiration of the term, death, resignation or inability to serve as a board member whose residence is in a Supreme Court district having two (2) members on the board, the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association shall submit six (6) names: three (3) from the Supreme Court district in which the former board member resided and three (3) from the Supreme Court district which had only one (1) member on the board, and the Governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment of one (1) of the six (6) nominees. All appointments shall be with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Members of the board serving on the predecessor board under Section 73-39-5 on July 1, 2005, may continue as members of the board until the expiration of the term for which they were appointed. Vacancies due to death, resignation or removal shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as regular appointments.

(a) A licensed veterinarian shall be qualified to serve as a member of the board if he has been licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state for the five (5) years immediately preceding the time of his appointment.

(b) Each member of the board shall be paid in accordance with Section 25-3-69 for each day or substantial portion thereof if he is engaged in the work of the board, in addition to such reimbursement for travel and other expenses as is allowed under Section 25-3-41.

(2) The board shall meet at least once each year at the time and place fixed by rule of the board. Other necessary meetings may be called by the board by giving notice as may be required by rule. Except as may otherwise be provided, a majority of the board constitutes a quorum. Meetings shall be open and public except that the board may meet in closed session to prepare, approve, administer or grade examinations or to deliberate the qualification of an applicant for license or the disposition of a proceeding to discipline a licensed veterinarian in accordance with Section 25-41-7.

(3) The board annually shall elect officers from its membership as may be prescribed by rule. Officers of the board serve for terms of one (1) year and until a successor is elected, without limitation on the number of terms an officer may serve. The duties of officers shall be prescribed by rule.