(225 ILCS 55/25) (from Ch. 111, par. 8351-25)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 25. Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board.

(a) The Secretary shall appoint a Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board. The Board shall be composed of 7 persons who shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary. The Board shall annually elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson.

(b) In appointing members of the Board, the Secretary shall give due consideration to recommendations by members of the profession of marriage and family therapy and by the statewide organizations solely representing the interests of marriage and family therapists.

(c) Five members of the Board shall be marriage and family therapists who have been in active practice for at least 5 years immediately preceding their appointment, or engaged in the education and training of masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral students of marriage and family therapy, or engaged in marriage and family therapy research. Each marriage or family therapy teacher or researcher shall have spent the majority of the time devoted to the study or research of marriage and family therapy during the 2 years immediately preceding his or her appointment to the Board. The appointees shall be licensed under this Act.

(d) Two members shall be representatives of the general public who have no direct affiliation or work experience with the practice of marriage and family therapy and who clearly represent consumer interests.

(e) Board members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years each, except that any person chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired term of the Board member whom he or she shall succeed. Upon the expiration of this term of office, a Board member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. No member shall serve more than 2 consecutive 4-year terms.

(f) The membership of the Board shall reasonably reflect representation from the various geographic areas of the State.

(g) Members of the Board shall have no liability in any action based upon any disciplinary proceedings or other activities performed in good faith as members of the Board.

(h) The Secretary may remove any member of the Board for any cause that, in the opinion of the Secretary, reasonably justifies termination.

(i) The Secretary may consider the recommendations of the Board on questions of standards of professional conduct, discipline, and qualification of candidates or licensees under this Act.

(j) The members of the Board shall be reimbursed for all legitimate, necessary, and authorized expenses.

(k) A majority of the Board members currently appointed shall constitute a quorum. A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the Board.

(Source: P.A. 100-372, eff. 8-25-17.)