(a) The governor shall appoint a board of examiners of hearing instrument dispensers, consisting of five persons. No person shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the board unless such person is a resident of Kansas. The governor shall appoint three members of such board who are licensed in this state as hearing instrument fitters and dispensers and shall have been engaged in the actual practice of fitting and dispensing hearing instruments in this state continuously for the last five years. The Kansas hearing aid association shall submit the names of three persons licensed in this state as hearing instrument fitters and dispensers and the Kansas speech language and hearing association shall submit the names of three persons licensed in this state as hearing instrument fitters and dispensers to the governor who shall select at least one member from each list to be on the board with the third member being selected by the governor. The final composition of the board shall include one audiologist who is also licensed as a hearing instrument fitter and dispenser and one hearing instrument fitter and dispenser who is not licensed as an audiologist. The governor shall appoint two members of such board who are individuals not currently engaged in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing instruments nor have any current or previous affiliation with a fitter and dispenser of hearing instruments. Each member shall be appointed by the governor for terms of three years. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the unexpired term. The governor shall have the power to remove from office any member of the board for neglect of duty, incompetency, improper or unprofessional conduct, or when the certificate of a member has been revoked.

(b) The provisions of this act shall not affect the office of any member of the board appointed prior to the effective date of this act. As positions become vacant on the board, appointments shall be made in a manner so as to comply with the provisions of this section.