§ 59-2028. Respiratory Care Advisory Committee - Members - Qualifications - Terms - Vacancies - Removal.

A.  1.  There is hereby created a Respiratory Care Advisory Committee within the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, to assist in administering the provisions of the Respiratory Care Practice Act.  The Committee shall consist of nine (9) members, appointed as follows:

a.one member shall be a physician appointed by the Board from its membership,

b.one member shall be a physician appointed by the Board from a list of qualified individuals submitted by the Oklahoma State Medical Association and who is not a member of the Board,

c.one member shall be a physician appointed by the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners from its membership,

d.one member shall be a physician appointed by the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners from a list of qualified individuals submitted by the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association and who is not a member of the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and

e.five members shall be licensed respiratory care practitioners appointed by the Board from a list of respiratory care practitioners submitted by the Oklahoma Society for Respiratory Care (OSRC).

2.  Other than the physicians appointed from the membership of the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision and of the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, the physician members shall have special qualifications in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory problems and, wherever possible, be qualified in the management of acute and chronic respiratory disorders.

3.  The respiratory care practitioner members shall have been engaged in rendering respiratory care services to the public, teaching or research in respiratory care for at least five (5) years immediately preceding their appointments.  These members shall at all times be holders of valid licenses for the practice of respiratory care in this state, except for the members first appointed to the Committee.  These initial members shall, at the time of appointment, be credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or current equivalent credential as identified by the Respiratory Care Advisory Committee and approved by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.

B.  Members of the Committee shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years.  Provided, the terms of office of the members first appointed shall begin November 1, 1995, and shall continue for the following periods:  two physicians and two respiratory care practitioners for a period of three (3) years; and two physicians and three respiratory care practitioners for a period of four (4) years.  Upon the expiration of a member's term of office, the appointing authority for that member shall appoint a successor pursuant to the provisions of subsection C of this section.  Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled in like manner for the balance of an unexpired term.  No member shall serve more than three consecutive terms.  Each member shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.

C.  Upon expiration or vacancy of the term of a member, the respective nominating authority may, as appropriate, submit to the appointing Board a list of three persons qualified to serve on the Committee to fill the expired term of their respective member.  Appointments may be made from these lists by the appointing Board, and additional lists may be provided by the respective organizations if requested by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.

D.  The State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision may remove any member from the Committee for neglect of any duty required by law, for incompetency, or for unethical or dishonorable conduct.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 171, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.  Amended by Laws 2013, c. 72, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2013.