THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

 

TO:

The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

FROM:

Johanna Duncan-Poitier

SUBJECT:

Appointment to the Position of Executive Secretary, State Board for Acupuncture, State Board for Occupational Therapy and State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Executive Secretary to the Committee for Professional Assistance

DATE:

July 12, 2005

STRATEGIC GOAL:

Goal 3

AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

 

Should the Regents approve the appointment of Lawrence P. De Mers as Executive Secretary to the State Board for Acupuncture, the State Board for Occupational Therapy and State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and as Executive Secretary to the Committee for Professional Assistance?  Mr. De Mers has over eight years of experience as Acting Executive Secretary to the Committee for Professional Assistance and administering the Professional Assistance Program (PAP).   

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

Required by State statute.
         

 

Proposed Handling

 

This recommendation will come before the full Board of Regents at its Executive Session for discussion during the July Regents meeting.  It will then come before the full Board for final action on July 21, 2005.

 

 

Procedural History

 

Article 160, section 8213 (2) of Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Acupuncture.   Article 159, section 8205 of Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.   Likewise, Article 156, section 7903 requires the Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Occupational Therapy.  Regents regulation of all of these professions began in 1976.  The State professional boards advise and assist the Regents and the Department on matters of professional licensing and professional conduct.  Article 130, section 6510-b of Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary to the Committee on Professional Assistance. 

 

Background Information

 

Larry De Mers has 20 years of varied and progressively responsible experience with the State Education Department.  He has made significant, positive contributions to all major functions of the Office of the Professions, from prelicensure and examination activities to professional discipline processes.  Since June 1997, he has led the work of the 40-member Committee for Professional Assistance and the related Professional Assistance Program (PAP), as Acting Executive Secretary.   Mr. De Mers brings rigorous and innovative thinking to his programs.  Under his direction, for example, the PAP—which can offer an alternative to professional discipline for licensed professionals with drug addictions—has doubled the number of licensees it serves each year.  In addition, the "paperless" office environment that Mr. De Mers designed and implemented for the PAP has dramatically improved communications and made processes more efficient.  Mr. De Mers would be continuing his role with the Committee on Professional Assistance and the Professional Assistance Program. The breadth and quality of his work, his direction of the Committee for Professional Assistance, and his commitment to public protection demonstrate Mr. De Mers' ability to lead the State Board for Acupuncture, the State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and the State Board for Occupational Therapy which assist the Regents with the oversight of five professions: acupuncture, audiology, occupational therapy, occupational therapy assistant, and speech-language pathology.  These professions encompass approximately 28,000 active practitioners.  A copy of his résumé is attached.

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Regents approve the appointment of Lawrence P.

De Mers as Executive Secretary to the State Board for Acupuncture, the State Board for Occupational Therapy and State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and as Executive Secretary to the Committee on Professional Assistance.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

If the Regents approve the recommendation, the appointment will be effective July 21, 2005.