Section 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) The Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association;(2) The Arkansas Association of Black Social Workers, Inc.;(3) The Arkansas Black Nurses Association;(4) The National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Arkansas Chapter;(5) The National Pharmacists Association of Arkansas; and(6) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing.(c) Recommendations for appointments under this section shall:(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) 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) Be submitted by an officially designated officer or committee on behalf of the recommending organization; and(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) Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine;(2) Arkansas Psychology Board;(3) Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board;(4) Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners;(5) Arkansas State Medical Board;(6) Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy;(7) Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; and(8) State Board of Optometry.(f) This section does not change or affect any existing delineations for minority appointments.Acts 2009, No. 1490, § 1.