(a) There is hereby established the Kansas cotton boll weevil program.

(b) The board of directors of the Kansas cotton boll weevil program is hereby established to administer and implement the Kansas cotton boll weevil program. The board shall consist of:

(1) Five voting members; and

(2) three ex officio nonvoting members, as provided in subsection (f).

(c) After the effective date of this act, the board of directors of the Kansas cotton association shall submit seven nominations to the secretary of agriculture. The secretary of agriculture shall appoint five voting members to the board from among such nominees.

(d) Upon a vacancy in the board or at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the term of any voting member of the board, the board of directors of the Kansas cotton association shall submit three nominations to the secretary of agriculture for each such vacancy or expiring term. The secretary of agriculture shall appoint a voting member to the board from among the growers of the state from among such nominees.

(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each appointed board member shall serve a term of four years. Board members appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall serve for the remainder of such unexpired term.

(2) Two of the board members first appointed on and after the effective date of this act shall be appointed for a term of two years.

(f) The dean of the college of agriculture of Kansas state university or the dean’s designee, the secretary or the secretary’s designee and the Kansas cotton association chairman or the chairman’s designee shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board.

(g) The board shall annually elect a chairperson from the voting members of the board.

(h) The board shall meet at least once every calendar year in conjunction with the Kansas cotton association’s annual meeting.