(a) There is in the state government the California Apiary Research Commission. The commission shall be composed of six assessment-paying producers and one public member. Producers without reference to districts shall elect one producer member with principal residence from each of districts 1, 2, 3, and 4, and two producers at large without reference to districts. The public member shall be appointed to the commission by the secretary based on the recommendation from the commission.
(b) The secretary and other appropriate persons, as determined by the commission, shall be ex officio members of the commission.