Section 43-34-2. Creation of board; members; physician assistants advisory committee; review of qualifications

   (a) A board is established to be known as the Georgia Composite Medical Board. The board shall be composed of 15 members, all of whom shall be citizens of the United States and residents of this state. All appointments to the board shall be made by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

(b) Thirteen of the members shall be actively practicing physicians of integrity and ability and shall hold unrestricted licenses to practice medicine in this state. Eleven of the 13 physician members shall be graduates of reputable medical schools conferring the M.D. degree; the other two physician members shall be graduates of reputable osteopathic medical schools conferring the D.O. degree. All of the physician members shall have been engaged in the active practice of their profession within this state for a period of at least five years prior to their appointment. Any vacancy occurring in a post held by a holder of the D.O. degree shall be filled by a D.O. and any vacancy occurring in a post held by an M.D. degree shall be filled by an M.D.

(c) The fourteenth and fifteenth members of the board shall have no connection whatsoever with the practice of medicine and may vote only on matters relating to administration and policy which do not directly relate to practical and scientific examination of physicians in this state.

(d) Any member of the board may be removed from his or her position and generate an open position on the board:

   (1) By a majority vote of the members of the board if a member of the board misses three or more consecutive meetings or misses more than one-third of all meetings including meetings conducted by teleconference, without a valid medical reason or reasons deemed excusable, which removal shall not be effective unless approved by the Governor; or

   (2) By the Governor if the board member:

      (A) Has willfully neglected his or her duty as a board member;

      (B) Has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

      (C) Has been convicted of a felony;

      (D) Is no longer in the active practice of medicine, if a physician member;

      (E) Is no longer a resident of the State of Georgia; or

      (F) Has received any restriction of his or her medical license in Georgia or any other state, if a physician member.

(e) (1) The board shall appoint a Physician Assistants Advisory Committee composed of four physicians, at least two of whom shall be members of the board, and four licensed physician assistants, who shall each serve for terms of office of two years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The committee shall review matters to come before the board which relate to physician assistants, including but not limited to applicants for physician assistant licensure and relicensure and education requirements therefor, and proposed board regulations concerning physician assistants. The committee shall periodically make recommendations to the board regarding matters reviewed. Each member of the advisory committee shall be entitled to the same expense allowances, mileage allowances, and reimbursement as members of the board as provided for in this chapter.

   (2) The committee shall appoint a physician assistant in an advisory capacity to the board. The advisory person shall serve at the pleasure of the committee as an ex officio adviser to the board in all matters relating to physician assistants and shall share in the privileges and benefits of the board without a vote.

(f) The board shall review applicants' qualifications for licensure, certification, or permitting pursuant to this chapter.

(g) Reserved.

Ga. L. 1913, p. 101, § 2; Ga. L. 1918, p. 173, § 1; Code 1933, § 84-902; Ga. L. 1963, p. 285, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 301, § 2; Ga. L. 1971, p. 689, § 1; Ga. L. 1974, p. 1156, § 2; Ga. L. 1977, p. 334, § 1; Ga. L. 1979, p. 382, §§ 1, 2; Code 1981, § 43-34-21; Ga. L. 1982, p. 2266, § 3; Ga. L. 1983, p. 3, § 32; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1465, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 304, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 1903, § 10; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1153, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2062, § 3; Ga. L. 1997, p. 935, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 296, § 25; Code 1981, § 43-34-2, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2009, p. 859, § 1/HB 509; Ga. L. 2010, p. 543, § 1/SB 252.