(a) The board shall consist of thirteen members, all of whom shall be residents of Pennsylvania. Seven members shall be physical therapists holding an active license to practice in this Commonwealth, each having had at least five years of experience as a physical therapist in this Commonwealth, three years of which must have immediately preceded the appointment to the board. One member shall be a physical therapist assistant holding an active certificate with the board. Two members shall be representatives of the public. One member shall be the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs. One member shall be the Physician General of the Commonwealth or his designee. One member shall be the Attorney General or a designee. The members of the board, other than the Attorney General, Physician General and commissioner, shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate. The board shall meet no less than four times per calendar year.

(b) Professional and public members of the board shall serve staggered four-year terms. No member may be eligible for appointment to serve more than two consecutive terms. A member may continue to serve for a period not to exceed six months beyond the expiration of his term, if a successor has yet to be duly appointed and qualified according to law.

(c) The board shall select, from among their number, a chairman, a vice chairman and a secretary.

(d) A majority of the members of the board serving in accordance with law shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting the business of the board. Except for temporary and automatic suspensions under sections 11.1 and 11.2,¹ a member may not be counted as part of a quorum or vote on any issue unless he or she is physically in attendance at the meeting.

(e) Each public and professional member of the board shall be paid reasonable traveling, hotel and other necessary expenses and per diem compensation at the rate of $60 for each day of actual service while on board business.

(f) A professional or public member who fails to attend three meetings in 18 months shall forfeit the member's seat unless the commissioner, upon written request from the member, finds that the member should be excused from a meeting because of illness or death of a family member.

(g) In the event that a member of the board dies or resigns or otherwise becomes disqualified during the term of office, a successor shall be appointed in the same way and with the same qualifications as set forth in subsection (a) and shall hold office for the unexpired term.

(h) Deleted by 2008, July 4, P.L. 293, No. 38, § 2, effective in 90 days [Oct. 2, 2008].

(i) A public member who fails to attend two consecutive statutorily mandated seminars in accordance with section 813(e)² of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 177, No. 175), known as “The Administrative Code of 1929,” shall forfeit his or her seat unless the Commissioner of Professional and Occupational Affairs, upon written request from the public member, finds that the public member should be excused from a meeting because of illness or the death of a family member.