§3084. Louisiana State Board of Examiners in Dietetics and Nutrition; membership, terms, and vacancies; 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 Louisiana Department of Health, subject to the provisions of R.S. 36:803.

B.(1) The board shall be composed of the following eight 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.

(e) One consumer who shall be selected from the state at large. The consumer member may apply directly to the office of the governor.

(2) The governor shall ensure that his appointments demonstrate race, gender, ethnic, and geographical diversity.

C.(1) Board members who are dietitians or nutritionists shall be residents of the state who have an unrestricted license to practice in the field of dietetics or nutrition or a related field for not less than five years. The registered nurse and physician board members shall have an unrestricted license to practice their respective professions.

(2)(a) The consumer member of the board shall possess all of the following qualifications:

(i) Is a citizen of the United States and has been a resident of Louisiana for at least one year immediately prior to appointment.

(ii) Has attained the age of majority.

(iii) Has never been licensed by any of the licensing boards identified in R.S. 36:259(A), nor shall he have a spouse who has ever been licensed by a board identified in R.S. 36:259(A).

(iv) Has never been convicted of a felony.

(v) Does not have and has never had a material financial interest in the healthcare profession.

(b) The consumer member shall be a full voting member of the board with all rights and privileges conferred on board members, except that the consumer member shall not participate in the grading of individual examinations.

D. 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. Repealed by Acts 2016, No. 636, §2.

G. The board shall annually elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary-treasurer who shall each serve for terms of one year, or until the successor of each is elected.

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; Acts 2016, No. 636, §§1, 2; Acts 2018, No. 515, §2.