(a) There is hereby established the state board of mortuary arts. The board shall consist of five members appointed by the governor. All vacancies occurring on the board shall be filled by appointment by the governor. Appointments shall be made on or before August 1, and each member appointed shall serve for a term of three years from August 1 following the year of appointment. The governor shall fill any vacancy in an unexpired term by appointing a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(b) All members of the state board of mortuary arts shall be residents of the state of Kansas. Three members of the board shall hold an embalmer’s license issued by the state board of mortuary arts, shall have five consecutive years’ experience in the practice of embalming and shall be currently engaged in the practice of embalming and in care of and disposition of dead human bodies in this state. Two members of the board shall be representative of the public in general and shall not hold any license issued by the board. The governor shall have power to remove from office any member of the board for neglect of duty, incompetency or improper conduct.

(c) All members of the state board of embalming immediately prior to July 1, 1985, shall continue as members of the state board of mortuary arts until the time of the expiration of the term for which such member was appointed to the state board of embalming.