(a) Creation of board.
(1) There is created the Virgin Islands Board of Naturopathic Physicians under the Department of Health for administrative purposes only. The Board shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. The Governor shall make the initial appointments to the Board no later than 60 days after the effective date of this section.
(2)
(A) Three members of the Board shall be licensed as naturopathic physicians under this chapter. One member of the Board shall be a physician, and one member shall be a pharmacist licensed to practice under the provisions of this title.
(B) The members of the Board shall be appointed for staggered terms of four years, except for the initial Board. Each member shall serve until the member's successor is appointed and confirmed. For the initial Board, one naturopathic physician and one medical physician shall serve a four-year term, one naturopathic physician and one licensed pharmacist shall serve a three-year term, and one naturopathic physician shall serve a two-year term.
(3) No Board member may serve more than two consecutive terms, whether full or partial.
(4) Any Board member may be removed for just cause, including unprofessional conduct.
(5) The Governor may appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on the Board for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(6) Board members shall not receive compensation, but shall be compensated for travel expenses as provided under title 3, chapter 1, of this code.
(b) Board meetings.
(1) The members of the Board shall elect a chairperson and secretary from among their members, who shall serve until a successor is elected.
(2) The Board shall meet at least semi-annually and at such other times, as the chairperson deems necessary. Special meetings shall be at the request of a majority of the Board after notice in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(3) Any member who fails to attend 50% of all the meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from his position.
(4) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for conducting the business of the Board.
(c) Powers and duties of the Board. The Board shall:
(1) adopt rules and regulations that are necessary or proper for the administration of this chapter;
(2) administer and enforce all provisions of this chapter which pertain to licensees and applicants, and all rules adopted by the Board under the authority granted in this chapter;
(3) adopt and use a seal, the imprint of which, together with the signatures of the chairperson and secretary of the Board, evidence its official acts;
(4) keep an updated professional registry of all the licenses issued;
(5) set all application, license and renewal fees commensurate with the cost of administration;
(6) issue, renew, deny, suspend, and revoke licenses and fine licensees;
(7) issue certificates of specialty practice as provided in this chapter;
(8) maintain a permanent record of the Board's proceedings;
(9) establish procedures for appealing decisions of the Board;
(10) investigate and conduct hearings regarding any violation of this chapter and any rules of the board;
(11) subpoena witnesses, administer oaths in any hearing or disciplinary proceedings and compel, by subpoena duces tecum, the production of papers and records;
(12) maintain an accurate account of all receipts, expenditures, and refunds granted under this chapter; and
(13) establish a formulary.
(d) Civil immunity. The members of the Board are immune from suit in any civil action based on any act performed in the course of their duties.