§34-24-252. Powers and duties.

The State Board of Podiatry shall be the certifying board for podiatrists and shall have the exclusive power and authority to certify and to issue, suspend, revoke, limit, and reinstate all licenses or certificates authorizing the licensee to practice podiatry in the State of Alabama, and shall have the following authorities and shall perform the following duties:

(1) To promulgate any rules and regulations for its government as it may deem necessary and proper; and for purposes of disciplining its licensees, in addition to any other powers of the board, the board may adopt and collect administrative fines, not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) per violation, and may institute any legal proceedings necessary to effect compliance with this article.

(2) To provide a standard of efficiency as to the moral, educational, and experience qualifications and fitness for all persons who desire to practice podiatry in this state.

(3) To elect annually one of its members as president, one as vice-president, and one as secretary-treasurer, who shall hold their respective offices for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. If a vacancy occurs in any of the three offices, a special meeting of the board shall be called for the purpose of filling the vacancy for the unexpired term.

(4) To administer any oaths and take any affidavits as are required by this article, certifying thereto under its hand and the seal of the board.

(5) To assist in the prosecution of violations of this article.

(6) To appoint or employ a legal adviser or counsel, when deemed necessary, whose compensation shall be fixed by the board and paid in the same manner as the per diem and expenses of the board are paid.

(7) To adopt a common seal to be affixed to its official documents.

(8) To keep a record of its proceedings, a register of persons licensed as podiatrists, and a register of licenses and certificates revoked by the board.

(9) To annually, on or before January 1, make a report to the Governor of Alabama of all its official acts during the preceding year, of its receipts and disbursements, a full and complete report of the condition of podiatry and the practice in this state, and to file duplicate copies of the report with the Secretary of State, the State Auditor, and the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

(10) To employ, when deemed necessary and without regard to the state Merit System, and set the salary of, an executive director who shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall administer board policy.

(Acts 1967, No. 741, p. 1586, §5; Acts 1987, No. 87-588, p. 970, §1; Acts 1989, No. 89-242, p. 342, §3; Acts 1993, No. 93-156, p. 233, §3; Act 2009-715, p. 2104, §1.)