(a)  An Environmental Health Specialist Registration Committee shall be appointed to advise and to make recommendations to the department with respect to, and to take other actions as described in this article for the establishment of rules and regulations necessary to ensure, the proper administration and enforcement of the registration of environmental health specialists whose duties in public health and environmental health require knowledge and skills in the physical, biological, and environmental health sciences and whose performance of professional duties is necessary for the promotion of life, health, and well being of the public.

The members of the former Sanitarian Registration Certification Committee shall serve as members of the new committee until the expiration of their terms.

(b)  The committee shall consist of the Chief of the Environmental Planning and Local Health Services Branch, department, or the designee of the chief, who shall serve as executive officer but who shall not vote, and the following 10 members who are residents of the state:

(1)  Two members appointed by the director from the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health who shall be environmental health specialists with at least two years’ experience as directors of environmental health in this state.

(2)  Three members appointed by the director, each of whom shall be a qualified, practicing environmental health specialist registered in California for a period of five or more years. For purposes of this subdivision:

(A)  One member shall be employed in the public sector at the time of appointment.

(B)  One member shall be employed in the private sector at the time of appointment.

(C)  One member shall be from the California Environmental Health Association.

(3)  One member appointed by the director from the California Conference of Local Health Officers.

(4)  Two members appointed by the director from the environmental health faculty of those California universities and colleges with approved curricula leading to a degree in environmental health.

(5)  Two public members who have not been engaged at any time within five years immediately preceding their appointment in pursuits that lie within the field of environmental health or the profession regulated by the committee of which they are members. The Senate Rules Committee shall appoint one public member and the Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint one public member.

(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)