(a) The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the injured employee public counsel. The public counsel serves a two-year term that expires on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) The governor shall appoint the public counsel without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee. Section 401.011(16) does not apply to the use of the term "disability" in this subchapter.
(c) If a vacancy occurs during a term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
(d) In appointing the public counsel, the governor may consider recommendations made by groups that represent wage earners.