2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 37:3084 — Louisiana state board of examiners in dietetics and nutrition; membership, terms, and vacancies; domicile; officers; meetings; quorum; compensation

§3084.  Louisiana State Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition; membership, terms, and vacancies; domicile; officers; meetings; quorum; compensation

A.  The Louisiana State Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition, hereinafter referred to as the "board", is hereby created within the Department of Health and Hospitals.

B.(1)  The board shall be composed of the following seven members, all appointed by the governor and subject to Senate confirmation:

(a)  Four shall be licensed dietitians/nutritionists selected from a list submitted by the Louisiana Dietetic Association.

(b)  One shall be a licensed registered nurse selected from a list of names submitted by the Louisiana State Nurses Association.

(c)  One shall be a person with a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management selected from a list of names submitted by the Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry.

(d)  One shall be a licensed physician selected from a list of names submitted by the Louisiana State Medical Society.

(2)  The initial members of the board shall be appointed by the governor not later than sixty days after the effective date of this Chapter from lists of names submitted by the designated associations not later than thirty days after the effective date of this Chapter.

C.  Board members shall be residents of the state who have been actively practicing in the field of dietetics/nutrition or a related field for not less than five years.  Board members shall have an unrestricted license to practice their respective professions, where applicable.  The registered dietitians/nutritionists initially appointed to the board must be eligible for licensure pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter; thereafter, dietitians/nutritionists appointed to the board must be licensed pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.

D.  Two of the dietitian/nutritionist members of the board shall be appointed for initial terms of two years and two of the dietitian/nutritionist members for three years, as designated by the governor at the time of the appointment.  The nursing member, the member appointed from names submitted by the commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, and the physician each shall be appointed for an initial term of one year.  Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a term of three years.

E.  A vacancy in the membership of the board shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

F.  The board shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge, but may hold public meetings elsewhere in the state.

G.  Within thirty days after the appointment of its initial members, the board shall hold a meeting for the purpose of organization and shall elect from its membership a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary-treasurer.  Officers shall be elected for terms of one year, or until the successor of each is elected.  Thereafter, the board shall annually and in like manner elect its officers.

H.  The board shall hold regular meetings at least twice in each year for the purpose of considering applicants and at any other time the board or its chairman deems necessary, at a time and place designated by the chairman.  Special meetings may be called by the chairman upon giving at least seventy-two hours' notice thereof by registered or certified mail to the post office address of each member of the board and of persons who previously have indicated that they have business before the board.

I.  Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business at any regular or special meeting.

J.  Members of the board shall serve in their capacity as board members without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred while engaged on board business.  Reimbursement for expenses shall be paid out of the monies credited the board as provided by R.S. 37:3089.

K.  This board shall be financially self-sufficient.  It shall receive no state funds through appropriation or otherwise and shall not expend any such state funds.  No state funds shall be expended or committed to expenditure for the group benefits program or any other health insurance or employee benefit program, for any retirement system, for any salary, per diem payment, travel or expenses, office supplies and materials, rent, purchase of any product or service, or for any other purpose.

Acts 1987, No. 574, §1, eff. July 9, 1987; Acts 1999, No. 1055, §1.