(a) There is hereby created the board for professional counselors, marital and family therapists and clinical pastoral therapists, referred to as the “board” in this chapter.

(b)

(1) The board shall consist of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the governor.

(2)

(A) Members of the board may be appointed from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested counseling and therapy groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Counseling Association, the Tennessee Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists, and the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association.

(B) In making appointments to the board, the governor shall consult with interested counseling and therapy groups including, but not limited to, the organizations listed in subdivision (b)(2)(A) to determine qualified persons to fill the positions.

(3) The fifth member shall be a citizen-at-large appointed by the governor.

(4) All board members shall be resident citizens of Tennessee.

(5) Board candidates shall be licensed or certified prior to nomination except for the fifth member who shall be a citizen-at-large.

(c)

(1) Each member of the board shall serve for a term of five (5) years.

(2) With the exception of the citizen-at-large member, a board member who vacates the member's seat may be replaced by a person from the same profession as that of the vacating member.

(3) A vacancy of the citizen-at-large board position shall be replaced by a person appointed by the governor.

(4) Members whose terms of office have expired shall continue to serve until their replacements are named.

(5) In making appointments to the board, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the board is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority.

(d) A majority of the members to which the board is entitled constitutes a quorum.

(e) Each member of the board shall receive fifty dollars ($50.00) per diem expenses when actually engaged in the discharge of the member's official duties and all legitimate and necessary expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the board. Each member shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(f) The board shall choose one (1) of its members president, one (1) vice president and one (1) secretary-treasurer thereof, at each annual meeting, held in July, at such place as may be selected or designated by the board. The board may meet more often if necessary, in the discretion of the board, at such times and places as it may deem proper, for the examination of applicants and for the transaction of any business that may come before it.

(g)

(1) The administrative functions and duties of the board are vested in the division of health related boards, referred to as “division” in this chapter. The division shall employ such persons as may be necessary for the effective and efficient discharge of the duties of the board.

(2) Such administrative assistants and other employees shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.

(h) In making appointments to the board, the governor should consider the importance of geographical diversity to this board. Whenever practicable, the governor shall strive to ensure that members on the board are from each of the three (3) grand divisions of the state.