A. There is hereby established the Therapeutic Recreation Committee to assist the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision in conducting examinations for applicants and to advise the Board on all matters pertaining to the licensure, education, and continuing education of therapeutic recreation specialists and the practice of therapeutic recreation or recreation therapy.

B. 1. The Therapeutic Recreation Committee shall consist of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision as follows:

a.three members shall, upon initial appointment, be qualified persons who have been actively practicing therapeutic recreation in this state for at least three (3) years, provided, their successors shall be licensed therapeutic recreation specialists, and

b.two members shall be lay persons.

2. The professional members of the Committee shall be appointed for staggered terms of one (1), two (2) and three (3) years, respectively. Terms of office of each appointed member shall expire July 1 of that year in which they expire regardless of the calendar date when such appointments were made. Subsequent appointments shall be made for a term of three (3) years or until successors are appointed and qualified.

a.The lay members shall be appointed for staggered terms of office which will expire July 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. Thereafter, members appointed to these positions shall serve for terms of three (3) years or until successors are appointed and qualified.

b.Vacancies shall be filled by the Board in the same manner as the original appointment.

3. Members of the Committee shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of duties required by the Therapeutic Recreation Practice Act in accordance with the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

4. The Committee shall meet at least quarterly. At the initial meeting of the Committee, members shall elect a chair. The chair shall represent the Committee at all meetings of the Board. Three members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting official business of the Committee.

C. The Committee shall have the power and duty to:

1. Advise the Board on all matters pertaining to the licensure, education, and continuing education requirements for and practice of therapeutic recreation or recreation therapy in this state; and

2. Assist and advise the Board in all hearings involving therapeutic recreation specialists who are deemed to be in violation of the Therapeutic Recreation Practice Act.

Added by Laws 2009, c. 384, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.