Section 6508. Assistance by state boards for the professions

1. A board for
  each  profession  shall  be  appointed  by  the  board of regents on the
  recommendation of the commissioner for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the
  board   of  regents  and  the  department  on  matters  of  professional
  licensing, practice, and conduct. The composition of each board shall be
  as prescribed in the article relating to each  profession.  Within  each
  board a committee on licensing may be appointed by the board chairman.
    Except   as  provided  in  paragraph  (a)  of  this  subdivision,  the
  membership of each professional licensing board shall  be  increased  by
  one  member,  and  each  such  board  shall  have  at  least  one public
  representative who shall be selected by the board of  regents  from  the
  general public.
    a.  The  membership of the professional licensing boards created under
  sections sixty-five  hundred  twenty-three,  sixty-eight  hundred  four,
  sixty-nine hundred three, and seventy-four hundred three of this chapter
  shall  be  increased  by  two members, and each such board shall have at
  least two public representatives, who shall be selected by the board  of
  regents from the general public.
    b.  For the purposes of this title, a "public representative" shall be
  a person who is a consumer of services provided  by  those  licensed  or
  otherwise  supervised  or regulated by the boards created hereunder, and
  shall not be, nor within five years  immediately  preceding  appointment
  have been:
    (i)  a  licensee  or  person  otherwise  subject to the supervision or
  regulation of the board to which appointed; or
    (ii) a person maintaining a contractual relationship with  a  licensee
  of  such  board,  which  would constitute more than two percentum of the
  practice or business of any such licensee, or an officer,  director,  or
  representative of such person or group of persons.
    2.  Each board, or its committee on licensing, shall select or prepare
  examinations,  may  conduct  oral   and   practical   examinations   and
  reexaminations,  shall  fix passing grades, and assist the department in
  other licensing matters as prescribed by the board of regents.
    3. Each board shall conduct disciplinary proceedings as prescribed  in
  this  article  and shall assist in other professional conduct matters as
  prescribed by the board of regents.
    4. Members of each board shall be appointed by the  board  of  regents
  for five-year terms except that the terms of those first appointed shall
  be  arranged  so  that  as  nearly  as  possible  an  equal number shall
  terminate annually. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled by
  an appointment by the board of regents  for  the  unexpired  term.  Each
  state  professional  association  or  society  may  nominate one or more
  candidates for each  appointment  to  be  made  to  the  board  for  its
  profession,  but  the  board of regents shall not be required to appoint
  candidates so nominated. Former members of a board may  be  re-appointed
  by  the  board of regents, on the recommendation of the commissioner, to
  serve as members of the board solely for the  purposes  of  disciplinary
  proceedings, proceedings relating to the moral character of an applicant
  for   licensure,  and  proceedings  relating  to  applications  for  the
  restoration of a professional license. In  addition,  each  board  shall
  establish  a  roster  of  auxiliary members from candidates nominated by
  professional associations or societies for appointment by the  board  of
  regents,  on the recommendation of the commissioner, to serve as members
  of the board  solely  for  the  purposes  of  disciplinary  proceedings,
  proceedings  relating  to  the  moral  character  of  an  applicant  for
  licensure, and proceedings relating to applications for the  restoration
  of a professional license.

    5.  Each member of a board shall receive a certificate of appointment,
  shall before beginning his term of office file a constitutional oath  of
  office  with  the  secretary  of  state, shall receive up to one hundred
  dollars as prescribed by the board of regents for each  day  devoted  to
  board  work,  and  shall  be  reimbursed for his necessary expenses. Any
  member may be  removed  from  a  board  by  the  board  of  regents  for
  misconduct, incapacity or neglect of duty.
    6.   Each   board   shall  elect  from  its  members  a  chairman  and
  vice-chairman annually, shall meet upon call  of  the  chairman  or  the
  department, and may adopt bylaws consistent with this title and approved
  by the board of regents. A quorum for the transaction of business by the
  board shall be a majority of members but not less than five members.
    7.  An  executive  secretary  to  each board shall be appointed by the
  board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner.  Such  executive
  secretary  shall  not be a member of the board, shall hold office at the
  pleasure of, and  shall  have  the  powers,  duties  and  annual  salary
  prescribed by the board of regents.