ORS 681.400: State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

(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]