(a) There is established as an independent agency of the executive branch of the government of the State of Arkansas the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
(b) (1) (A) The board shall be composed of eight (8) members appointed by the Governor to three-year terms.
(B) The members of the board shall be residents of this state for at least two (2) years immediately preceding their appointments.
(2) (A) (i) Seven (7) members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Academy of Audiology, and other professional groups or individuals and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
(ii) Not less than thirty (30) days before the end of each fiscal year, the association may recommend not more than three (3) persons for each vacancy.
(B) The board shall have the following professional members:
(i) Two (2) speech-language pathologists;
(ii) Two (2) audiologists; and
(iii) A fifth member who shall be either a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist.
(C) There shall be one (1) consumer member and one (1) public representative member, neither of whom shall be engaged in a health-related profession.
(3) (A) One (1) member of the board shall represent the elderly.
(B) The representative of the elderly shall:
(i) Be sixty (60) years of age or older;
(ii) Not be actively engaged in or retired from the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology;
(iii) Be appointed from the state at large, subject to confirmation by the Senate; and
(iv) Be a full voting member but shall not participate in the grading of examinations.
(4) The consumer representative position and the representative of the elderly position may not be filled by the same person.
(c) (1) No person shall be eligible to serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms.
(2) Terms shall begin on the first day of the fiscal year and end on the last day of the fiscal year in which members are appointed before commencing the terms prescribed by this section.
(d) (1) In the event of a midterm vacancy, the association may recommend as soon as practicable not more than three (3) persons to fill the professional, consumer, or public representative vacancies.
(2) As soon as practicable after a recommendation under subdivision (d)(1) of this section has been made, the Governor shall appoint one (1) of these persons who shall fill the unexpired term.
(e) Board members may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with ยง 25-16-901 et seq.
Section: 17-100-202 17-100-203 17-100-204 17-100-206 17-100-207 NextLast modified: November 15, 2016