(a) To assist the board of medical examiners in the performance of its duties, there is hereby established the committee on physician assistants. The committee shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the governor, each of whom shall be a resident of this state and each of whom shall be a physician assistant who meets the criteria for licensure as established by this part.

(b) Initial appointments to the committee shall be made as follows: two (2) members shall be appointed to terms of four (4) years, one (1) member shall be appointed to a term of three (3) years, one (1) member shall be appointed to a term of two (2) years, and one (1) member shall be appointed to a term of one (1) year. Each regular appointment thereafter shall be for a term of four (4) years. Any vacant term shall be filled by the governor for the balance of the unexpired term. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive four-year terms and each member shall serve on the committee until a successor is appointed. In making appointments to the committee, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the committee is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the committee is a member of a racial minority.

(c) While engaged in the business of the committee, members thereof shall receive a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100) and shall also receive compensation for actual expenses to be paid in accordance with comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(d) The committee shall elect a chair and secretary from among its members at the first meeting held in each fiscal year. A committee meeting may be called upon reasonable notice in the discretion of the chair and shall be called at any time upon reasonable notice by a petition of three (3) committee members to the chair.