(a) There is created an Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee to assist the Arkansas State Medical Board in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
(b)
(1) The committee shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate for terms of five (5) years, each of whom is a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Arkansas. One (1) member shall be a member of a minority race.
(2) Three (3) members shall be persons licensed under this chapter who have had at least three (3) years' experience in the practice of occupational therapy in this state and shall be appointed after consulting the Arkansas Occupational Therapy Association.
(3) One (1) member shall be a resident of this state who is not engaged in or licensed to practice as an occupational therapist, and shall represent consumers.
(4) One (1) member shall not be actively engaged in or retired from the profession of occupational therapy, shall be sixty (60) years of age or older, and shall represent the elderly. This member shall be appointed from the state at large, subject to the confirmation of the Senate. He or she will be a full voting member but shall not participate in the grading of examinations.
(c) The consumer representative position and the representative of the elderly position may not be filled by the same person.
(d) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner for the unexpired term.
(e) The members of the committee may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.
(f) The committee is directed by this chapter to define “regular” and “frequent” as they relate to the supervision of occupational therapy assistants and to write and publish a code of ethics for the practice of occupational therapy and rules defining unprofessional conduct and gross negligence.
(g) In addition, the committee may be delegated by the board such powers and duties as it may deem proper.