§ 23-39-5 - Board created. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 23-39-5

   § 23-39-5  Board created. – (a) Within the division of professional regulation of the health departmentshall be a board of respiratory care consisting of five (5) members as follows:

   (1) One physician licensed in the state who is knowledgeablein respiratory care;

   (2) Three (3) licensed respiratory care practitioners;

   (3) One public member who is a resident of Rhode Island. Thepublic member shall not have been licensed as a respiratory care practitionernor shall he or she have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in theoccupation regulated.

   (b) The director of the department of health, with theapproval of the governor, within sixty (60) days following November 1, 1986,shall appoint one board member for a term of one year; two (2) for a term oftwo (2) years; and two (2) for a term of three (3) years. Appointments madethereafter shall be for three-year terms but no person shall be appointed toserve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

   (c) The director, in his or her initial appointment, shallappoint as the respiratory care practitioner one of the members of the board ora person currently practicing as respiratory care practitioners in Rhode Island.

   (d) The board shall meet during the first month of eachcalendar year to select a chairperson and for other purposes. At least oneadditional meeting shall be held before the end of each calendar year. Othermeetings may be convened at the call of the chairperson, the administrator ofprofessional regulation, or upon the written request of any two (2) boardmembers.

   (e) In the event of a vacancy in one of the positions, thedirector of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, mayappoint a person who shall fill the unexpired term.