The secretary shall appoint a Curly Top Virus Control Board consisting of nine members. The membership shall consist of at least one representative of each of the primary crop commodities assessed and shall include representation from each of the districts assessed. The secretary may appoint one additional member on the board, who shall be a public member. The secretary shall appoint one member of the board to serve as chairperson.
Upon the secretary’s request, the board shall submit to the secretary the names of three or more natural persons, each of whom shall be a citizen and resident of this state and not a producer, shipper, or processor or financially interested in any producer, shipper, or processor, for appointment by the secretary as a public member of the board. The secretary may appoint one of the nominees as the public member on the board. If all nominees are unsatisfactory to the secretary, the board shall continue to submit lists of nominees until the secretary has made a selection. Any vacancy in the office of the public member of the board shall be filled by appointment by the secretary from the nominee or nominees similarly qualified submitted by the board. The public member of the board shall represent the interests of the general public in all matters coming before the board and shall have the same voting and other rights and immunities as other members of the board.