§ 8503. State board for respiratory therapy. A state board for respiratory therapy shall be appointed by the board of regents on the recommendation of the commissioner for the purpose of assisting the board of regents and the department on matters of professional licensing and conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight of this title. The board shall be composed of not less than five licensed respiratory therapists, two licensed respiratory therapy technicians, and four additional members who shall include at least one licensed physician and at least one public member. Members of the first board who are respiratory therapy practitioners need not be licensed prior to appointment on the board, provided, however, that the first appointed respiratory therapists shall be registered by a national certifying or accrediting board, acceptable to the department and the first appointed respiratory therapy technicians shall be certified by a national certifying or accrediting board, acceptable to the department. An executive secretary to the board shall be appointed by the board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner.