(a) The Virgin Islands Board of Allied Health Professions (“Board”) is established within the Virgin Islands Department of Health. The Board shall regulate the practice of all allied health professionals and evaluate the qualifications of applicants for licensure and grants licenses to those who qualify. The Board establishes regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensees.
(b) The Board is composed of five members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Legislature, who are citizens of the United States and residents of the Virgin Islands. Two members shall reside on St. Croix, two members shall reside on St. Thomas, and one member shall reside on St. John.
(c) All five members must be licensed in allied health professions, and no two members may practice in the same field.
(d) Each member is appointed for a term of three years or until a successor is appointed, except that the terms of the first appointees may be for shorter periods to permit a staggering of terms. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed, shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. Each member shall serve until the member’s successor is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
(e) The Board shall annually elect one of its members to serve as Chairperson.
(f) Three members constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the Board. However, in the absence of a quorum, the Chairman of the Board of Medical Examiners shall temporarily conduct the business of the Board of Allied Health until a quorum is reestablished.
(g) The Governor may remove a member of the board for neglect of duty, malfeasance, incompetence, misconduct, or conviction of a felony.
(h) Board members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses in the performance of official Board business as provided under Title 3 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, subchapter 1, section 65.