(a) There is hereby created the State Examining Board of Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers. The Board shall consist of 10 members, all of whom shall be residents of Delaware. Four members shall be physical therapists licensed to practice in Delaware, provided they have worked at least 3 years in Delaware as physical therapists immediately preceding their appointment. One member shall be a physical therapist assistant, licensed to practice in Delaware, provided he or she has worked at least 3 years in Delaware as a physical therapist assistant immediately preceding his or her appointment. Two members shall be athletic trainers licensed to practice in Delaware, provided they have worked at least 3 years in Delaware as athletic trainers immediately preceding their appointment. Three members shall be from the public who are not physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, or athletic trainers and who shall not be related to any person actively engaged in said professions in the State, nor shall said members have any interest in a business or institution engaged in physical therapy or athletic training.

(b) The Governor shall appoint the members to serve on the Board. In appointing persons to fill vacancies in the 10 Board positions designated to be held by persons licensed under this chapter, the Governor may select members who reside in different regions in the State in an effort to provide statewide representation of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and athletic trainers.

(c) Appointments shall be made for terms of 3 years. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be appointed for the remainder of the unexpired term, except that each member shall serve until a successor is duly appointed and qualified.

(d) A person who has never served on the Board may be appointed to the Board 2 consecutive times, but no such person shall thereafter be eligible for 2 consecutive appointments. No person who has been twice appointed to the Board, or who has served on the Board for 6 years within any 9-year period, shall again be appointed to the Board until an interim period of at least 1 term has expired since such person last served.

(e) Any act or vote by a person appointed in violation of subsection (d) of this section shall be invalid. An amendment or revision of this chapter is not sufficient cause for any appointment or attempted appointment in violation of subsection (d) of this section, unless such amendment or revision amends this section to permit such an appointment.

(f) Each member of the Board shall be reimbursed for all expenses involved in each meeting, including travel, and in addition shall receive compensation per meeting attended in an amount determined by the Division in accordance with Del. Const. art. III, §  9.

(g) No member of the Board, while serving on the Board, shall hold elected office in any professional association of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, or athletic trainers.

(h) A member of the Board shall be suspended or removed by the Governor for misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty. A member subject to a disciplinary hearing shall be disqualified from Board business until the charge is adjudicated or the matter is otherwise concluded. A Board member may appeal any suspension or removal to the Superior Court.

(i) A member who is absent without adequate reason for 3 consecutive meetings or fails to attend at least half of all regular business meetings during any calendar year shall be guilty of neglect of duty.

24 Del. C. 1953, §§ 2602, 2604; 50 Del. Laws, c. 367, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 192, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 97, §§ 3-5; 67 Del. Laws, c. 366, § 8; 67 Del. Laws, c. 368, § 14; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 381, §§ 4, 5, 7; 79 Del. Laws, c. 406, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 85, § 13.