Rhode Island § 5-45-1 - Nursing Home Administrators

§ 5-45-1. Board of examiners — Creation — Composition — Appointment, terms, oath, and removal of members — Meetings.

(a) Within the department of health, there shall be a board of examiners for nursing home administrators. The board shall be appointed by the director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, and shall consist of seven (7) persons who shall be certified electors of this state.

(1) Three (3) members of the board shall be persons licensed as nursing home administrators pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Two (2) members of the board shall be representatives from senior citizen groups.

(3) On June 1, 1979, two (2) additional qualified members are appointed. One shall be a nurse who is licensed in the state, is a graduate of an accredited school of nursing, and has been actively engaged in nursing service for at least two (2) years immediately preceding appointment or reappointment. The other member shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state, who has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine for at least two (2) years immediately preceding appointment or reappointment. The physician and nurse members of the board shall be representative of those persons of the profession concerned with the care and treatment of chronically ill or infirm elderly patients.

(4) A majority of the board members may not be representative of a single profession or category of institution, and members who are not representative of institutions may not have a direct financial interest in any nursing home. Licensed nursing home administrators shall be considered representatives of institutions for the purpose of this section.

(b) Members shall be appointed to a term of three (3) years. No member shall serve more than two (2) terms. The director of the department of health shall, with the approval of the governor, appoint to vacancies, as they occur, a qualified person to serve on the board for the remainder of the term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

(c) The director of the department of health may remove, after a hearing and with the approval of the governor, any member of the board for neglect of any duty required by law or for any incompetency or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made for the remainder of the term. Before beginning his or her term of office, each member shall take the oath prescribed by law for state officers, a record of which shall be filed with the secretary of state.

(d) The director shall appoint a chairperson. No member shall serve as chairperson for more than three (3) years.

(e) Four (4) members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(f) The members of the board shall serve without compensation.

(g) Meetings shall be called by the director of the department of health, or his or her authorized designee, or by a majority of the members of the board.

(h) The administrator of professional regulation of the department of health, as provided by chapter 26 of this title, shall serve as administrative agent of the board.