337.535. Committee established--qualifications of members, terms--compensation--meetings, quorum--removal of members.
Committee established--qualifications of members,terms--compensation--meetings, quorum--removal of members.
337.535. 1. There is hereby established the "Committee forProfessional Counselors" which shall guide, advise, and makerecommendations to the division and fulfill other responsibilitiesdesignated by this chapter. The committee shall approve the examinationrequired by section 337.510 and shall assist the division in carrying outthe provisions of sections 337.500 to 337.540.
2. The committee shall consist of six members, including one publicmember, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of thesenate. Each member of the committee shall be a citizen of the UnitedStates and a resident of this state and, except as provided hereinafter,shall be licensed as a professional counselor by this state. Beginningwith the appointments made after August 28, 1992, two members shall beappointed for four years, two members shall be appointed for three yearsand two members shall be appointed for two years. Thereafter, all membersshall be appointed to serve four-year terms. No person shall be eligiblefor reappointment who has served as a member of the committee for a totalof eight years. The membership of the committee shall reflect thedifferences in levels of education and work experience with considerationbeing given to race, gender and ethnic origins. Not more than twocounselor educators shall be members of the committee at the same time.The president of the American Counseling Association of Missouri in officeat the time shall, at least ninety days prior to the expiration of the termof the committee member, other than the public member, or as soon asfeasible after the vacancy on the committee otherwise occurs, submit to thedirector of the division of professional registration a list of fiveprofessional counselors qualified and willing to fill the vacancy inquestion, with the request and recommendation that the governor appoint oneof the five persons so listed, and with the list so submitted, thepresident of the American Counseling Association of Missouri shall includein his or her letter of transmittal a description of the method by whichthe names were chosen by that association.
3. A vacancy in the office of a member shall be filled by appointmentby the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.
4. Each member of the committee shall receive as compensation, anamount set by the committee not to exceed fifty dollars for each daydevoted to the affairs of the committee, and shall be reimbursed fornecessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of his or herofficial duties. All staff for the committee shall be provided by thedivision.
5. The committee shall hold an annual meeting at which it shall electfrom its membership a chairperson and secretary. The committee may holdsuch additional meetings as may be required in the performance of itsduties, provided that notice of every meeting must be given to each memberat least three days prior to the date of the meeting. A quorum of thecommittee shall consist of a majority of its members.
6. The governor may remove a committee member for misconduct,incompetency or neglect of his or her official duties after giving thecommittee member written notice of the charges against the committee memberand an opportunity to be heard thereon.
7. The public member shall be at the time of his or her appointment acitizen of the United States; a resident of this state for a period of oneyear and a registered voter; a person who is not and never was a member ofany profession licensed or regulated pursuant to sections 337.500 to337.540 or the spouse of such person; and a person who does not have andnever has had a material, financial interest in either the providing of theprofessional services regulated by sections 337.500 to 337.540, or anactivity or organization directly related to any profession licensed orregulated pursuant to sections 337.500 to 337.540. The duties of thepublic member shall not include the determination of the technicalrequirements to be met for licensure or whether any person meets suchtechnical requirements or of the technical competence or technical judgmentof a licensee or a candidate for licensure.
(L. 1985 S.B. 37 § 9, A.L. 1989 H.B. 738 & 720, A.L. 1992 H.B. 1593 merged with S.B. 804, A.L. 1999 H.B. 343)