§ 17-80-302. Minority members of state health-related agencies, boards, and commissions

(a) The appointing authorities for state health-related agencies, boards, and commissions shall consider appointment recommendations submitted by minority health-related professional associations.

(b) The recommending organizations under this section include without limitation:

1. (1) The Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association;

2. (2) The Arkansas Association of Black Social Workers, Inc.;

3. (3) The Arkansas Black Nurses Association;

4. (4) The National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Arkansas Chapter;

5. (5) The National Pharmacists Association of Arkansas; and

6. (6) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing.

(c) Recommendations for appointments under this section shall:

1. (1) Be submitted to the appointing authorities at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of a position in a state health-related agency, board, or commission relevant to the field or practice of the recommending body;

2. (2) Be submitted to the appointing authorities anytime before the appointing authority fills a position that has opened due to resignation or removal before the end of the originally appointed term;

3. (3) Be submitted by an officially designated officer or committee on behalf of the recommending organization; and

4. (4) Include correspondence on official organizational letterhead and the resume or curriculum vitae of a recommended candidate.

(d) If a recommendation for appointment under subsection (b) of this section is not received within the time allotted for the appointment, the appointing authority may make the appointment without a recommendation.

(e) The health-related agencies, boards, and commissions for which recommendations may be considered under this section include the:

1. (1) Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine;

2. (2) Arkansas Psychology Board;

3. (3) Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board;

4. (4) Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners;

5. (5) Arkansas State Medical Board;

6. (6) Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy;

7. (7) Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; and

8. (8) State Board of Optometry.

(f) This section does not change or affect any existing delineations for minority appointments.