(1) There is established a State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The board consists of eight members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner provided in ORS § 171.562 and 171.565. All members of the board must be residents of this state. Of the members of the board:

(a) Two must be audiologists licensed under this chapter.

(b) Two must be speech-language pathologists licensed under this chapter.

(c) One must be a speech-language pathology assistant certified under ORS § 681.360.

(d) One must be a person licensed to practice medicine who also holds board certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology.

(e) Two must be members of the public who are not:

(A) Otherwise eligible for appointment to the board; or

(B) A spouse, domestic partner, child, parent or sibling of:

(i) An audiologist;

(ii) A speech-language pathologist;

(iii) A speech-language pathology assistant; or

(iv) A person licensed to practice medicine who also holds board certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology.

(2)(a) Board members required to be licensed audiologists, licensed speech-language pathologists or certified speech-language pathology assistants may be selected by the Governor from a list of three to five nominees for each vacancy, submitted by:

(A) Any professional organization representing audiologists, if the vacancy on the board is for an audiologist position;

(B) Any professional organization representing speech-language pathologists, if the vacancy on the board is for a speech-language pathologist position; or

(C) Any professional organization representing speech-language pathology assistants, if the vacancy on the board is for a speech-language pathology assistant position.

(b) In selecting the members of the board, the Governor shall strive to balance the representation on the board according to:

(A) Geographic areas of this state; and

(B) Ethnic group.

(3)(a) The term of office of each member is three years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The terms must be staggered so that no more than three terms end each year. Before the expiration of the term of a member, the Governor shall appoint a successor whose term begins on July 1 next following. A member is eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.

(b) A board member shall be removed immediately from the board if, during the member’s term, the member:

(A) Is not a resident of this state;

(B) Has been absent from three consecutive board meetings, unless at least one absence is excused;

(C) Is not a licensed audiologist or a retired audiologist who was a licensed audiologist whose license was in good standing at the time of retirement, if the board member was appointed to serve on the board as an audiologist;

(D) Is not a licensed speech-language pathologist or a retired speech-language pathologist who was a licensed speech-language pathologist whose license was in good standing at the time of retirement, if the board member was appointed to serve on the board as a speech-language pathologist; or

(E) Is not a certified speech-language pathology assistant or a retired speech-language pathology assistant who was a certified speech-language pathology assistant whose certificate was in good standing at the time of retirement, if the board member was appointed to serve on the board as a speech-language pathology assistant. [Formerly 694.445; 1985 c.64 § 7; 1995 c.280 § 16; 2005 c.698 § 16; 2009 c.535 § 16; 2009 c.756 § 43a; 2021 c.138 § 1]