Section 8503. State board for respiratory therapy

A  state board for
  respiratory therapy 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
  and conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of  this
  title.  The  board  shall  be  composed  of  not less than five licensed
  respiratory therapists, two licensed  respiratory  therapy  technicians,
  and  four  additional  members  who  shall include at least one licensed
  physician and at least one public member. Members of the first board who
  are respiratory therapy practitioners need  not  be  licensed  prior  to
  appointment  on  the  board, provided, however, that the first appointed
  respiratory therapists shall be registered by a national  certifying  or
  accrediting  board, acceptable to the department and the first appointed
  respiratory  therapy  technicians  shall  be  certified  by  a  national
  certifying  or  accrediting  board,  acceptable  to  the  department. An
  executive secretary to the board shall be  appointed  by  the  board  of
  regents on recommendation of the commissioner.