2023 Tennessee Code › Title 63 - PROFESSIONS OF THE HEALING ARTS (§§ 63-1-NEW — 63-32-119) › Chapter 19 - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (§§ 63-19-101 — 63-19-314) › Part 1 - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ACT (§§ 63-19-101 — 63-19-116) › Section 63-19-103 - Board of physician assistants

(a)
(1)
There is established the board of physician assistants to regulate physician assistants. The board must consist of nine (9) members appointed by the governor, each of whom is a resident of this state, seven (7) of whom are physician assistants who meet the criteria for licensure as established by this part, one (1) of whom is a physician licensed under chapter 6 or 9 of this title, and one (1) of whom is a public member who is not licensed under this title.
(2)
On the date this act becomes law for the purposes of the board being established, those members who are currently serving as members of the board of medical examiners' committee on physician assistants will become members of the board of physician assistants, except that any current member who is an orthopedic physician assistant will not become a member of the board of physician assistants pursuant to this subdivision (a)(2).
(b)
(1)
Except as provided in subdivision (b)(2), each regular appointment is for a term of four (4) years. The governor shall fill a vacant term for the balance of the unexpired term. A member shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive four-year terms and each member shall serve on the board until a successor is appointed. In making appointments to the board, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) person serving on the board is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority.
(2)
(A)
The former committee members' board appointments are four (4) years from the date the members were appointed to serve as members of the physician assistant committee.
(B)
The former committee members shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive four-year terms, including the time served on the board of medical examiners' committee on physician assistants.
(C)
The governor shall appoint one (1) board member with an initial term of one (1) year, one (1) board member with an initial term of two (2) years, and one (1) board member with an initial term of three (3) years. After the initial terms described in this subdivision (b)(2)(C), each term shall be four (4) years.
(c)
While engaged in the business of the board, board members shall receive a per diem of one hundred dollars ($100) and shall also receive compensation for actual expenses to be paid in accordance with comprehensive travel regulations promulgated by the commissioner of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
(d)
The board shall elect a chair and secretary from among its members at the first meeting held in each fiscal year. A board meeting may be called upon reasonable notice in the discretion of the chair and must be called at any time upon reasonable notice by a petition of three (3) board members to the chair.
(e)
(1)
On May 26, 2021, for purposes of the board being established, the secretary of state shall transfer the rules of the board of medical examiners' committee on physician assistants, including Chapter 0880-03, general rules governing the practice of a physician assistant, and Chapter 0880-10, general rules governing the practice of an orthopedic physician assistant, to the board of physician assistants.
(2)
The rules of the board of medical examiners' committee on physician assistants Chapters 0880-03 and 0880-10 will have full force and effect for the board of physician assistants until the board of physician assistants promulgates its own rules pursuant to this act and in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
(3)
The board of physician assistants is granted full power and authority to oversee and regulate physician assistants under the rules of the board of medical examiners' committee on physician assistants chapters 0880-03 and 0880-10 and the statutes and policies that governed physician assistants and orthopedic physician assistants before the formation of the board of physician assistants.
(f)
For purposes of conducting administrative business and promulgating rules, five (5) members constitute a quorum, and the board shall meet at least twice a year to conduct such administrative business. A majority vote of the members present at the business meetings is required to authorize board action on any board business. For purposes of contested case hearings and disciplinary matters, three (3) or more members constitute a quorum, and the board chair is authorized, when it is deemed necessary, to split the board into panels of three (3) or more, each to conduct contested case hearings or disciplinary matters.
(g)
A majority vote of the members present on any duly constituted panel is required to authorize board action in disciplinary matters and contested case hearings. The board chair has the authority to appoint board members to serve, as necessary, on the panels regardless of the grand division from which the appointed member was chosen or the member's status as a physician assistant, physician, or public member. The existence of a public member of the board creates no rights in any individual concerning the composition of any panel in any disciplinary matter or contested case hearing. Notwithstanding §
4-5-314(e)
to the contrary, unavailability of a member of any panel before rendition of a final order does not require substitution of another member unless the unavailability results in there being less than the quorum required by this section for contested case hearings or disciplinary matters. Any substitute required shall use any existing record and may conduct further proceedings as is necessary in the interest of justice.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 565, s 6, eff. 5/26/2021.
Acts 1985, ch. 376, § 1; T.C.A., §
63-19-203
; Acts 1988, ch. 906, § 2; 1988, ch. 1013, § 56; 1997 , ch. 207, §§ 1, 5.