(1) There is created within the department the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, composed of seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

(2)(a) Four members of the board shall be persons licensed under this part, as follows:

1. Two members shall be practicing speech-language pathologists.

2. Two members shall be practicing audiologists.

(b) One member shall be a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 458 who is a neurologist, an otolaryngologist, or a pediatrician.

(c) Two members shall be citizens of the state who are communicatively impaired and who are not, and have never been, licensed as a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist and who are in no way connected with the practice of such profession. At least one of the two shall be a hearing aid user.

(d) At least one member of the board shall be 60 years of age or older.

(3) As the terms of the initial members expire, the Governor shall appoint successors who meet the requirements of subsection (2) for terms of 4 years. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed.

(4)(a) The board has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this part conferring duties upon it.

(b) The board shall adopt rules requiring that each prospective purchaser of a hearing aid be notified by the attending audiologist, at the time of the initial examination for fitting and sale of a hearing aid, of telecoil, “t” coil, or “t” switch technology. The rules shall further require that licensed audiologists make available to prospective purchasers information regarding telecoils, “t” coils, or “t” switches. These rules shall be effective on or before October 1, 1994.

(5) All provisions of chapter 456 relating to activities of regulatory boards shall apply to the board.

(6) The board shall maintain its official headquarters in Tallahassee.

History.—ss. 4, 31, ch. 90-134; s. 21, ch. 90-341; ss. 1, 10, ch. 90-345; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 329, ch. 94-119; s. 2, ch. 94-160; s. 131, ch. 94-218; s. 268, ch. 97-103; s. 75, ch. 98-166; s. 131, ch. 98-200; s. 133, ch. 2000-160; s. 78, ch. 2002-1.