A. The Genetic Counselor Advisory Committee is hereby created and shall have the purpose, composition, duties, and functions provided in this Section.

            B. The purpose of the advisory committee is to advise and make recommendations to the board regarding the practice of genetic counseling, including the collaborative practice agreement, and genetic counselor licensure.

            C.(1) The advisory committee shall be composed of five persons appointed by the governor, each of whom shall have at least one of the following qualifications:

            (a) Possesses a master’s degree from a genetic counseling training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling.

            (b) Possesses a doctoral degree from a medical genetics training program accredited by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics or its successor.

            (c) Is a genetic counselor certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, or the successor of these entities.

            (d) Is a medical geneticist certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics or its successor.

            (2) The members of the initial advisory committee shall serve for the following terms, as determined by lot: one member for a term of two years, two members for terms of three years, and two members for terms of four years. Thereafter, each term shall be for four years.

            (3) Each member of the advisory committee shall be a resident of this state.

            (4) No member shall be appointed to more than two consecutive full terms. A member appointed for less than a full term may serve two full terms in addition to such part of a full term. A former member shall be eligible for appointment after a lapse of one year.

            (5) A vacancy occurring on the advisory committee for any reason shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. Each member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

            D. An advisory committee member may be removed by the governor for neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance or misfeasance in office after a written notice of the charges against him and an opportunity to be heard. Upon the death, resignation, or removal for cause of any member of the committee, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of that member’s year.

            E. The committee shall, at its first meeting and annually thereafter, organize by electing from its membership a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary. Those officers shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified.

            F.(1) The committee shall meet at least semiannually and shall hold additional meetings at the call of the chair or at such times as may be determined by the committee.

            (2) The committee may conduct and its members may attend and participate in a meeting via electronic means in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 42:17.3.

            G. Advisory committee members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

            H. The advisory committee shall have all of the following duties:

            (1) To draft administrative rules and regulations for promulgation by the board as are necessary to regulate the practice of genetic counseling.

            (2) To draft policy for consideration by the board.

            (3) To advise the board on budgetary matters with respect to genetic counselor licensing.

            (4) To receive, review, and recommend to the board the approval or disapproval of applications referred by the board for license issuance, renewal, and reinstatement.

            (5) To retain records of its actions and proceedings in accordance with the Public Records Law, La. Rev. Stat. 44:1 et seq.

            (6) To perform such other functions and duties as may be requested by the board to assist the board in implementing the provisions of this Part.

            Acts 2018, No. 593, §1; Acts 2022, No. 408, §1.