(a) The West Virginia Board of Osteopathy is continued and effective July 1, 2012 shall be known as the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine. The members of the board shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and may be reappointed.

(b) The Governor shall appoint, by and with advice and consent of the Senate, two additional members and stagger their initial terms:

(1) One person who is a licensed osteopathic physician or surgeon; and

(2) One person who is a licensed osteopathic physician assistant.

(c) The board consists of the following seven members, who are appointed to staggered terms by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate:

(1) Four licensed osteopathic physicians and surgeons;

(2) One licensed osteopathic physician assistant; and

(3) Two citizen members, who are not associated with the practice of osteopathic medicine.

(d) After the initial appointment, a board member's term shall be for 5 years.

(e) The West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association may submit recommendations to the Governor for the appointment of an osteopathic physician board member, and the West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants may submit recommendations to the Governor for the appointment of an osteopathic physician assistant board member.

(f) Each licensed member of the board, at the time of his or her appointment, must have held a license in this state for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the appointment.

(g) Each member of the board must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of this state for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the appointment and while serving as a member of the board.

(h) A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. A member having served two consecutive full terms may not be appointed for one year after completion of his or her second full term. A member may continue to serve until a successor has been appointed and has qualified.

(i) A vacancy on the board shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired term of the member whose office is vacant and the appointment shall be made within sixty days of the vacancy.

(j) The Governor may remove any member from the board for neglect of duty, incompetency or official misconduct.

(k) A member of the board immediately and automatically forfeits membership to the board if his or her license to practice is suspended or revoked, he or she is convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction, or he or she becomes a nonresident of this state.

(l) The board shall elect annually one of its members as a chairperson and one of its members as a secretary who shall serve at the will of the board.

(m) Each member of the board is entitled to compensation and expense reimbursement in accordance with article one of this chapter.

(n) A simple majority of the membership serving on the board at a given time constitutes a quorum.

(o) The board shall hold at least two meetings each year. Other meetings may be held at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request of two members, at the time and place as designated in the call or request.

(p) Prior to commencing his or her duties as a member of the board, each member shall take and subscribe to the oath required by section five, article four of the Constitution of this state.

(q) The members of the board when acting in good faith, without malice and within the scope of their duties as board members shall enjoy immunity from individual civil liability.