(a) There is created the board of veterinary medical examiners, referred to as the “board” in this chapter.

(b) The board shall be composed of:

(1) Five (5) licensed doctors of veterinary medicine, who shall be graduates of an approved school of veterinary medicine and of good standing in their profession and who have had not less than five (5) years' actual experience in the practice of veterinary medicine;

(2) One (1) licensed veterinary technician who shall be a graduate of an approved veterinary technology program, is of good standing in the profession, and who has had not less than five (5) years' actual experience as a licensed veterinary technician; and

(3) One (1) member of the general public as provided by § 63-1-124.

(c) The members of the board shall be appointed by the governor for a term of five (5) years. Each member so appointed shall serve until the expiration of the particular five-year term to which the member is appointed and thereafter until the member's successor has been appointed by the governor. The governor shall appoint new members to the board to serve after the date of expiration of each of these terms until August 1 of the fifth calendar year thereafter. In making appointments to the board, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the board is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority.

(d) In the event of a vacancy on the board, the governor shall appoint a new member to serve out the unexpired term. No member may be reappointed to the board until one (1) year after the expiration of the member's term of office, except that a person appointed for a term of less than five (5) years may be reappointed.

(e) Members of the board may be appointed by the governor from lists of qualified nominees submitted by interested veterinary groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association. The governor shall consult with such interested groups to determine qualified persons to fill the positions. This subsection (e) shall not apply to the appointment of the public member.

(f) No person who has been appointed a member of the board shall continue on the board if during the term of the member's appointment the member shall:

(1) Transfer the member's legal residence to another state;

(2) Be or become the owner of, or be employed by, any wholesale or jobbing house dealing in supplies, equipment or instruments used or useful in the practice of veterinary medicine; or

(3) Have the member's license to practice veterinary medicine rescinded for cause in accordance with this chapter.

(g) The governor may suspend any member of the board for malfeasance, misfeasance, gross inefficiency or misconduct or upon any of the constitutional grounds upon which officers may be suspended by the governor.

(h) The state veterinarian, as appointed by the commissioner of agriculture, shall serve as a nonvoting, ex officio member of the board of veterinary medical examiners.