§ 3703 — Board of Speech/Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Aid Dispensers; appointments; composition; qualifications; term; vacancies; suspension or removal; unexcused absences; compensation [For application of this section, see 84 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 2]

Delaware § 3703

• Jurisdiction: Delaware
• Title: 24
• Ch. 37: Speech/Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Aid Dispensers [For application of this chapter, see 84 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 2]
• Subch.: Board of Speech/Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Aid Dispensers [For application of this subchapter, see 84 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 2]

Text

(a) There is created a State Board of Speech/Language Pathologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Aid Dispensers, which shall administer and enforce this chapter.

(b) The Board consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor who must be residents of this State and are as follows:

(1) Three must be speech/language pathologists licensed under this chapter.

(2) Two must be audiologists licensed under this chapter.

(3) One must be a hearing aid dispenser licensed under this chapter.

(4) Three public members. The public members must be accessible to inquiries, comments, and suggestions from the general public and are subject to all of the following:

a. A public member may not be, nor ever have been, any of the following:

1. A speech/language pathologist.

2. A speech/language pathology assistant.

3. An audiologist.

4. A hearing aid dispenser.

5. A member of the immediate family of a speech/language pathologist, speech/language pathology assistant, audiologist, or hearing aid dispenser.

6. Employed by a speech/language pathologist, audiologist, or hearing aid dispenser, or a company engaged in the practice of speech/language pathology, audiology, or dispensing hearing aids.

b. The member may not have a material interest in the providing of goods and services to speech/language pathologists, speech/language pathology assistants, audiologists, or hearing aid dispensers.

c. The member may not have been engaged in an activity directly related to speech/language pathology, audiology, or dispensing hearing aids.

(c) Each member serves for a period of 3 years and may be reappointed to serve 1 additional 3-year term. Each term of office expires on the date specified in the appointment, except that a member may serve until a successor is duly appointed.

(d) A person who has never served on the Board may be appointed to the Board for 2 consecutive terms; but no such person shall thereafter be eligible for 2 consecutive appointments. No person who has been twice appointed to the Board or who has served on the Board for 6 years within any 9-year period may again be appointed to the Board until an interim period of at least 1 term has expired since such person last served.

(e) Any act or vote by a person appointed in violation of this section shall be invalid. An amendment or revision of this chapter is not sufficient cause for any appointment or attempted appointment in violation of subsection (d) of this section unless such an amendment or revision amends this section to permit such an appointment.

(f) A member of the Board shall be suspended or removed by the Governor for misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, misconduct, incompetency, or neglect of duty. A member subject to disciplinary hearing is disqualified from Board business until the charge is adjudicated or the matter is otherwise concluded. A Board member may appeal any suspension or removal to the Superior Court.

(g) No member of the Board, while serving on the Board, may hold elective office in any professional association of speech/language pathologists, speech/language pathology assistants, audiologists, or hearing aid dispensers; this includes a prohibition against serving as head of a professional association’s Political Action Committee (PAC).

(h) The provisions set forth in Chapter 58 of Title 29 apply to all members of the Board.

(i) Any member who is absent without adequate reason for 3 consecutive meetings or fails to attend at least half of all regular business meetings during any calendar year is guilty of neglect of duty.

(j) Each member of the Board shall be reimbursed for all expenses involved in each meeting, including travel; and in addition shall receive compensation per meeting attended in an amount determined by the Division in accordance with Del. Const. art. III, § 9.

Legislative History

24 Del. C. 1953, § 3607; 59 Del. Laws, c. 206, § 1 ; 63 Del. Laws, c. 151, § 8 ; 65 Del. Laws, c. 224, § 1 ; 67 Del. Laws, c. 368, § 24 ; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1 ; 72 Del. Laws, c. 266, § 1 ; 77 Del. Laws, c. 154, § 2 ; 81 Del. Laws, c. 85, § 20 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 2 ; 84 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 1