(a) There is hereby created the Tennessee massage licensure board.

(b) The board shall be composed of seven (7) members who are residents of the state. Except for the two (2) citizen members, each member shall have at least five (5) years current experience in the practice of massage. Persons with a conflict of interest are ineligible for membership on the board.

(c) All members shall be appointed by the governor. Initial appointments to the board shall be as follows:

(1) Three (3) members shall serve terms of one (1) year; and

(2) Four (4) members shall serve terms of two (2) years.

(d) Except for two (2) members who shall be citizen members with no direct or indirect financial interest in massage, all board members shall be duly licensed or eligible to be licensed by the board.

(e)

(1) Notwithstanding § 3-6-304 or any other law to the contrary, and in addition to all other requirements for membership on the board:

(A) Any person registered as a lobbyist pursuant to the registration requirements of title 3, chapter 6 who is subsequently appointed or otherwise named as a member of the board shall terminate all employment and business association as a lobbyist with any entity whose business endeavors or professional activities are regulated by the board, prior to serving as a member of the board. This subdivision (e)(1)(A) shall apply to all persons appointed or otherwise named to the board after July 1, 2010;

(B) No person who is a member of the board shall be permitted to register or otherwise serve as a lobbyist pursuant to title 3, chapter 6 for any entity whose business endeavors or professional activities are regulated by the board during such person's period of service as a member of the board. This subdivision (e)(1)(B) shall apply to all persons appointed or otherwise named to the board after July 1, 2010, and to all persons serving on the board on such date who are not registered as lobbyists; and

(C) No person who serves as a member of the board shall be employed as a lobbyist by any entity whose business endeavors or professional activities are regulated by the board for one (1) year following the date such person's service on the board ends. This subdivision (e)(1)(C) shall apply to persons serving on the board as of July 1, 2010, and to persons appointed to the board subsequent to such date.

(2) A person who violates this subsection (e) shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in title 3, chapter 6.

(3) The bureau of ethics and campaign finance is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this subsection (e). All such rules and regulations shall be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, and in accordance with the procedure for initiating and proposing rules by the ethics commission to the bureau of ethics and campaign finance as prescribed in § 4-55-103.

(f) Subsequent appointees to the board shall have the professional qualifications required by their predecessors and shall be appointed to five-year terms. Each member shall serve until such member's successor is appointed and qualified, unless such board member is no longer competently performing the duties of office. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled by the governor for the balance of the unexpired term. The governor may remove members of the board from office for cause.

(g) For each day engaged in the business of the board, a member shall receive as compensation one hundred dollars ($100) and shall also receive actual expenses to be paid in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(h) The members of the board shall elect annually a chair and a secretary/treasurer.

(i) The board shall meet as frequently as shall be reasonably necessary to implement this chapter. Four (4) or more members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting board business.

(j) For administrative purposes, the board shall be attached to the division of health related boards as defined in § 68-1-101, referred to as “division” in this chapter, which shall supply support.