MS Code § 73-38-11 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 73 - Professions and Vocations|Chapter 38 - Speech Pathologists and Audiologists|§ 73-38-11. Council of advisors in speech-language pathology and audiology

  There is established the Mississippi Council of Advisors in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi State Board of Health. The council shall aid the board in administering the provisions of this chapter.   The council shall be comprised of seven (7) members. Two (2) council members shall be speech-language pathologists, two (2) council members shall be audiologists, and two (2) council members shall be a licensed member of the health professions and a member of the public, both with an interest in the consumption of speech-language pathology or audiology services, with the seventh council member being a licensed physician, board certified in otolaryngology. All council members who are speech-language pathologists or audiologists shall at all times be holders of active and valid licenses for the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology in this state and shall be holders of the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology or its equivalent.   Two (2) members shall be appointed from each Supreme Court district as presently constituted; and one (1) member shall be appointed from the state at large. No more than three (3) members of the council shall be appointed from any one (1) Supreme Court district as presently constituted. The board shall, not later than August 31, 2002, appoint the health profession's member of the advisory council for a term of two (2) years, and the public member of the advisory council for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, appointments made shall be for three-year terms, with no person being eligible to serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms. Terms shall begin on the first day of the calendar year and end on the last day of the calendar year.   Not less than sixty (60) days before the end of each calendar year, the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association will submit the names of at least three (3) persons for each speech-language pathologist or audiologist vacancy and the Mississippi Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Association will submit the names of at least three (3) persons for an otolaryngologist vacancy occurring at the end of the calendar year. The board shall make all appointments of council members from the list of names submitted by each association within sixty (60) days after receiving the lists. The board shall solicit nominations for the health profession member from licensed speech pathologists and audiologists, and shall appoint the health profession member from the nominations submitted. In the event of a vacancy, the board shall, within thirty (30) days after such vacancy, appoint a person from the previous list of names submitted who shall fill the unexpired term.   The council shall meet during the first month of each calendar year to select a chairman and for other appropriate purposes. At least one (1) additional meeting shall be held before the end of each calendar year. Further meetings may be convened at the call of the chairman or the written request of any two (2) council members. All meetings of the council shall be open to the public, except that the council may hold closed sessions to prepare, approve, grade or administer examinations, or upon request of an applicant who fails an examination, to prepare a response indicating any reason for his failure. The public shall be notified of meetings of the council through at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the state and public information channels not less than ten (10) calendar days before such meetings are held.   Four (4) members of the council shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, but in no instance shall a meeting of four (4) council members be considered a quorum if there is not at least one (1) speech-language pathologist and one (1) audiologist present.