BOARD MEMBERSHIP.

(a) The Texas Board of Nursing consists of 15 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate as follows:

(1) seven nurse members, including:

(A) two advanced practice registered nurses;

(B) two registered nurses who are not advanced practice registered nurses or members of a nurse faculty; and

(C) three vocational nurses who are not members of a nurse faculty;

(2) three members who are nurse faculty members of schools of nursing:

(A) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a school of nursing offering a baccalaureate degree program in preparing registered nurses;

(B) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a school of nursing offering an associate degree program in preparing registered nurses; and

(C) one of whom is a nurse faculty member of a school of nursing at an institution of higher education preparing vocational nurses; and

(3) five members who represent the public.

(b) Appointments to the board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee.