Alabama § 34-13A-3 - State Board of Genetic Counseling.

§ 34-13A-3. State Board of Genetic Counseling.

(a) The State Board of Genetic Counseling is created to implement and administer this chapter.

(b) The membership of the board shall consist of all of the following:

(1) One individual appointed by the Department of Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

(2) Four individuals who practice genetic counseling in Alabama and who hold a master’s degree or doctoral degree in genetic counseling from an ACGC or ABMGG accredited training program, or an equivalent program approved by the ACGC or the ABMGG, appointed by the Governor.

(3) One physician appointed by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.

(4) One physician appointed by the State Board of Medical Examiners.

(5) One physician who specializes in pediatric genetics appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

(6) One physician appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(c) Board members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of two years and, upon the expiration of a term, may continue to serve until replaced or reappointed. All other board members shall serve until they are replaced by their respective appointing authority.

(d) The board shall annually elect from its membership a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary.

(e) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their appointments to assure the board membership is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state. Commencing on June 1, 2025, as the terms of the members serving on the board expire, the membership of the board shall be appointed so that one member resides in and is appointed from each congressional district in this state with the remaining members being appointed from the state at-large.

(f) Unless acting unreasonably or in bad faith, no member of the board shall be civilly liable for acting within the scope of his or her duties as a board member.

(g) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but, to the extent funds are available, may receive the same per diem and travel allowance as state employees.

(h)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), members of the board may participate in a regular meeting of the board by means of telephone conference, video conference, or similar communications equipment pursuant to the Alabama Open Meetings Act, Chapter 25A of Title 36.

(2) Members of the board may only participate in a meeting of the board relating to a disciplinary action in person.