Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists; appointment; membership; terms; headquarters.

(1) The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists is created within the Department of Health and shall consist of seven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

(2) The board members must be residents of this state. Two members must be licensed practicing prosthetists with a minimum of 3 years’ clinical or practical experience, at least one of whom has attained a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; one member must be a licensed practicing orthotist with a minimum of 3 years’ clinical or practical experience who has attained a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; two members must be prosthetic or orthotic users, the parents, guardians, or spouses of prosthetic or orthotic users, or any combination of such users and nonusers who are not deriving economic benefit from the fitting or dispensing of orthotic or prosthetic devices and who have never been orthotists or prosthetists or members of a closely related profession; one member must be a physician licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, or chapter 461 who has extensive knowledge of orthotics or prosthetics; and one member must be a licensed practicing orthotist, orthotic fitter, or pedorthist with a minimum of 3 years’ clinical or practical experience.

(3) Members of the board shall be appointed for terms of 4 years each and shall serve until their successors are appointed. Members may be reappointed for additional terms.

(4) The provisions of chapter 456 relating to activities of regulatory boards apply to the board.

(5) The board shall maintain its official headquarters in Tallahassee.