32-1602. Board of nursing; member terms; immunity

A. The Arizona state board of nursing is established consisting of eleven members who are appointed by the governor. Six members shall be registered nurses, including at least one registered nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or certified registered nurse anesthetist. One member shall be a nursing assistant or a nursing assistant educator. Two members shall represent the public and two members shall be licensed practical nurses. Members shall be appointed for a term of five years, to begin and end on June 30.

B. Before appointment by the governor, a prospective member of the board shall submit a full set of fingerprints to the governor for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check pursuant to section 41-1750 and Public Law 92-544. The department of public safety may exchange this fingerprint data with the federal bureau of investigation.

C. On or before May 1 each year and at any other time a vacancy on the board occurs, the governor shall make an appointment or appointments to the board. Appointment to fill a vacancy other than by expiration shall be for the unexpired term. A person shall not serve more than two consecutive terms as a member of the board.

D. The governor may remove any person from the board for neglect of any duty imposed by law or for incompetency or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct.

E. A board member's term automatically ends:

1. On the death of the member.

2. On the member's written resignation submitted to the board president or to the governor.

3. On the member's failure to attend three consecutive board meetings.

F. A board member who acts within the scope of board duties, without malice and in the reasonable belief that the member's action is warranted by law is not subject to civil liability.