§ 37:3554 — Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy; creation, membership, qualifications, terms,

§3554. Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy; creation, membership, qualifications, terms,
vacancies, officers, meetings, reimbursement, liability
A.(1) The Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy is hereby created within the
Louisiana Department of Health subject to the provisions of R.S. 36:803. It shall be
composed of seven members appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation. Five
of the members shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted to the governor by
professional massage therapy and bodywork associations. From the list of association
nominees, three of the persons appointed shall be licensed massage therapists. Two
consumer members shall be appointed from the list of nominees, both of whom shall be
consumers who have never been nor are currently a licensed massage therapist in the state.
The consumer members may also apply directly to the office of the governor. Two additional
licensed massage therapists shall be appointed to the board from a general list of names
which are submitted for consideration by other interested sources or individuals.
(2) The governor shall ensure that his appointments demonstrate race, gender, ethnic,
and geographical diversity.
(3)(a) All massage therapists appointed to the board by the governor shall be licensed
and in good standing under this Chapter. The massage therapist appointees shall have
practiced massage therapy for at least three years.
(b)(i) The consumer members shall be selected from the state at large. The consumer
members of the board shall possess all of the following qualifications:
(aa) Are citizens of the United States and have been residents of Louisiana for at
least one year immediately prior to appointment.
(bb) Have attained the age of majority.
(cc) Have never been licensed by any of the licensing boards identified in R.S.
36:259(A), nor shall either member have a spouse who has ever been licensed by a board
identified in R.S. 36:259(A).
(dd) Have never been convicted of a felony.
(ee) Do not have and have never had a material financial interest in the healthcare
profession.
(ii) The consumer members shall be full voting members of the board with all rights
and privileges conferred on board members, except that the consumer members shall not
participate in the grading of individual examinations.
B. All members of the board shall serve two-year terms. No member shall serve
more than three consecutive terms.
C. A vacancy on the board occurring prior to expiration of a term shall be filled in
the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the term.
D. The board shall meet at least twice each year. Additional board meetings may be
held at the call of the chairman or upon the written request of any three members of the
board.
E. Each year, the board shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, and treasurer
from its membership and shall maintain records of the attendance of its members at board
meetings.
F. Each member of the board shall serve with compensation, not to exceed fifty
dollars per day consisting of at least three hours of board business, including travel time.
Board members shall be reimbursed for travel and related expenses incurred, not to exceed
those expenses authorized for reimbursement by the Louisiana Department of Health, for
each day that the member engages in board business.
G. No member of the board shall be liable to civil action for any act performed in
good faith in the execution of his duties as a board member.

Legislative History

Acts 1992, No. 753, §2, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Acts 2001, No. 387, §1; Acts 2012, No. 605, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2018, No. 515, §2.