(a)    (1)    The Board consists of 8 members.

(2)    Of the 8 Board members:

(i)    Five shall be licensed physical therapists, of which a minimum of four shall be engaged primarily in the clinical practice of physical therapy in this State;

(ii)    One shall be a licensed physical therapist assistant practicing limited physical therapy in this State; and

(iii)    Two shall be consumer members.

(3)    The Governor shall appoint the licensed physical therapist members and the licensed physical therapist assistant member, with the advice of the Secretary, from a list of names of qualified individuals submitted to the Secretary and the Governor by the American Physical Therapy Association of Maryland. The number of names on the list shall be at least three times the number of vacancies.

(4)    The Governor shall appoint the consumer members with the advice of the Secretary and the advice and consent of the Senate.

(b)    Each licensed physical therapist member:

(1)    Shall have at least 5 years’ experience in physical therapy administration, education, practice, or research immediately before appointment; and

(2)    Shall be engaged in the profession of physical therapy in this State.

(c)    The licensed physical therapist assistant member shall:

(1)    Have 5 years’ experience in limited physical therapy; and

(2)    Be engaged in the profession of limited physical therapy in this State.

(d)    Each consumer member of the Board:

(1)    Shall be a member of the general public;

(2)    May not be or ever have been a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant or in training to become a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant;

(3)    May not have a household member who is a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant or in training to become a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant;

(4)    May not participate or ever have participated in a commercial or professional field related to physical therapy;

(5)    May not have a household member who participates in a commercial or professional field related to physical therapy; and

(6)    May not have had within 2 years before appointment a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board.

(e)    While a member of the Board, a consumer member may not have a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board.

(f)    Before taking office, each appointee to the Board shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.

(g)    (1)    The term of a member is 4 years.

(2)    The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 1981.

(3)    At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(4)    A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(5)    To the extent practicable, the Governor shall fill any vacancy on the Board within 60 days of the date of the vacancy.

(6)    A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.

(h)    (1)    The Governor may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.

(2)    Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, the Governor may remove a member whom the Secretary finds to have been absent from 2 successive Board meetings without adequate reason.