§ 5-37-1.1. Board of medical licensure and discipline - Creation - Composition - Appointment, removal, and compensation of members - Officers - Meetings - Funds. (a)(1) There is created within the department of health, the Rhode Island board of medical licensure and discipline which is composed of the following members:

(i) Four (4) licensed physicians who possess the degree of doctor of allopathic medicine; one of whom shall be a full-time medical school faculty member;

(ii) Two (2) licensed physicians who hold the degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine;

(iii) Five (5) public members, one of whom is an attorney with experience as plaintiff's counsel in the presentation or prosecution of medical malpractice matters, and one of whom is a member of the general public, not associated with the medical field, who is at least sixty (60) years of age; and three (3) of whom are public members not associated with the medical field;

(iv) One hospital administrator; and

(v) The director of the department of health who shall serve as chairperson of the board.

(2) The governor shall appoint the members of the board except that prior to appointing the six (6) physician members the governor may submit a list of all candidates to the appropriate medical or osteopathic societies for comments as to their qualifications. When the board is first selected, six (6) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, five (5) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, and two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of one year. No member shall be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive full terms. A member appointed for less than a full term (originally or to fill a vacancy) may serve two (2) full terms in addition to that part of a full term, and a former member is again eligible for appointment after a lapse of one or more years. All subsequent appointments to the board shall be for a term of three (3) years. Any member of the board may be removed by the governor for neglect of duty, misconduct, malfeasance, and misfeasance in office after being given a written statement of the charges against him or her and sufficient opportunity to be heard. The board shall elect from its members a vice-chairperson who, in the absence of the chairperson, shall exercise all powers of the chairperson, and a secretary. These officers shall serve for one year or until their successors are appointed and qualified. The board shall meet at least once a month or more often upon the call of the chairperson, director of the department of health, or chief administrative officer, at the times and places that the chairperson designates.

(b) Members of the board shall not be paid for the discharge of official duties.

(c) The administration of the board shall be funded from annual fees. The director, as stated in § 5-37-10, in consultation with the board, shall determine the amount of the annual fee to be charged to each licensed physician and to hospitals, the payment of which is a condition to practicing medicine or rendering hospital services in the state. The director or chief administrative officer has the authority to suspend or revoke the license of any physician who does not pay the annual fee. Monies shall be received by the department and credited to a restricted receipt account. All monies in that fund shall be utilized only for the purposes of maintaining, managing, operating, and administering the board of medical licensure and discipline in carrying out its functions. The fees and date of collection of all funds to be collected for the initial registrations and licenses issued pursuant to this title shall be as the director by regulation shall establish.

History of Section. (P.L. 1983, ch. 253, § 15; P.L. 1986, ch. 301, § 5; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 21, § 14.)