(a) It is a ground for removal from office if the public counsel:
(1) does not have at the time of appointment or maintain during service as public counsel the qualifications required by § 501.052;
(2) violates a prohibition established by § 501.053, 501.054, 501.056, or 501.102; or
(3) cannot, because of illness or disability, discharge the public counsel’s duties for a substantial part of the public counsel’s term.
(b) The validity of an action of the office is not affected by the fact that the action is taken when a ground for removal of the public counsel exists.