(a) The Regulatory Council for Physician Assistants (Council) shall consist of 7 voting members, 1 of whom is a physician member appointed by the Board, 1 of whom is a physician who regularly collaborates with physician assistants appointed by the Board, and 1 of whom is a pharmacist appointed by the Board of Pharmacy. The remaining 4 members, recommended by the Council and appointed by the Board, must be practicing physician assistants, subject to the same causes for removal as a physician member of the Board except that the requirement for certification and registration to practice medicine is replaced by licensure to practice medicine as a physician assistant. The Council may elect officers as necessary and recommend Council members to the Governor for appointment to the Board.

(b) Each Council member shall be appointed for a term of 3 years and may succeed himself or herself for 1 additional 3-year term. A person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Council is entitled to hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term of the former member. Each term of office expires on the date specified in the appointment; however, a member whose term of office has expired remains eligible to serve until replaced by the Board. A person who has never served on the Council may be appointed for 2 consecutive terms, but that person is thereafter ineligible for appointment to the Council except as hereinafter provided. A person who has twice been appointed to the Council or who has served on the Council for 6 years within any 9-year period may not again be appointed until an interim period of at least 1 year has expired since the person last served. The members of the Council are to be compensated at an appropriate and reasonable level as determined by the Division of Professional Regulation and may be reimbursed for meeting-related travel expenses at the State‘s approved rate. A member serving on the Council may not be an elected officer or a member of the board of directors of any professional association of physician assistants.

(c) The Council, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act [Chapter 101 of Title 29], shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the practice of physician assistants, subject to approval of the Board. The Board must approve or disapprove any proposed rule or regulation within 60 days of submission by the Council. If the Board fails to approve or disapprove the proposed rules or regulations within 60 days, the proposed rule or regulation is deemed approved by the Board.

(d) The Council shall meet at least on a quarterly basis and at other such times as license applications are pending. The Council shall evaluate the credentials of all applications for licensure as a physician assistant in this State, in order to determine whether the applicant meets the qualifications for licensure set forth in this chapter. The Council shall present to the Board the names of individuals qualified for licensing, shall review and consider disciplinary complaints and recommend disciplinary action against licensees as necessary, and shall suggest changes in operations or regulations.

(e) The Regulatory Council for Physicians Assistants, by the affirmative vote of 4 of its members and with the approval of the Board within 30 days of the vote, may waive the quarterly meeting requirements of this subchapter.

75 Del. Laws, c. 141, § ?1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 319, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 387, § ?2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 7; 83 Del. Laws, c. 16, § 2;