(a) (1) Any handler member and his or her alternate on the commission shall be an individual handler or an employee or representative of one or more handlers who have an ownership interest in a handling facility or who can document a substantial financial interest in processing or causing to be processed sea urchin for market.
(2) Qualifications of handler members and their alternates shall be maintained during their entire term of office.
(b) Any handler member or his or her alternate shall not have been convicted within the two years prior to election to the commission of a violation of any law related to the business of commercially handling any fish or seafood products, not including any technical reporting or paperwork violation.