§30-32-7 Board of examiners for speech-language pathology and audiology.
§30-32-7. Board of examiners for speech-language pathology and audiology.
(a) There is hereby created a state board to be known and designated as the "West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology" which shall consist of five members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. All members shall be residents of this state and have been residents of this state for at least two years prior to their appointments. The board shall be representative of various geographical regions of the state and of various employment settings.
(b) Two of the members shall be speech-language pathologists who are currently practicing speech-language pathology or who have had three years experience practicing speech-language pathology, and who hold active and valid licensure for the practice of speech-language pathology in this state, except for the first speech-language pathologists appointed who shall meet the eligibility requirements for licensure as specified in this article. Two of the members shall be audiologists who are currently practicing audiology or who have had three years experience practicing audiology, and who hold active and valid licensure for the practice of audiology in this state, except for the first audiologists appointed who shall meet the eligibility requirements for licensure as specified in this article. The fifth member shall be a lay person who is not associated with or financially interested in the practice or business of speech-language pathology or audiology nor a member of an allied or related profession or occupation.
(c) Within thirty days from the effective date of this article, the governor shall appoint the professional members of the first board from a list of names of at least seven speech-language pathologists and seven audiologists submitted by the state speech-language hearing association or from recommendations submitted by interested organizations or persons in the state. Each subsequent appointment of professional members may be made from recommendations submitted by the state speech-language-hearing association which may submit at least three names for each available position or from recommendations submitted by other interested organizations or persons in the state. No member of the board shall at the same time serve in an elected, appointed, or employed position in any state-level organization representing speech-language pathologists and audiologists, or both, which presents or may present a conflict of interest.
(d) Of the members first appointed, one of the audiologists and one of the speech-language pathologists shall serve for terms expiring the thirtieth day of June one thousand nine hundred ninety-five, and the other of each of the professions shall serve for terms expiring the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four, and the lay member shall serve for a term expiring the thirtieth day of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three. All subsequent appointments shall be for three years. Members shall serve until the expiration of the term for which they have been appointed or until their successors have been appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy in the office of a member of the board other than by expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. No member may serve more than two consecutive three year terms.