Section 34-24-313 Employment of Investigators, Agents, Etc., to Assist Commission; Assistance of Prosecuting Attorneys; Consultants.

(a) The State Board of Medical Examiners may employ investigators, attorneys, agents, and any other employees and assistants or use any other means necessary to aid the commission in bringing about and maintaining a rigid administration and enforcement of this article, and the board may incur reasonable, necessary, and proper expenses for assisting the commission and for implementing this article and all laws regulating the practice of medicine or osteopathy within the State of Alabama. The commission and the board may request assistance from the Attorney General, district attorneys, or other prosecuting attorneys of this state in the various circuits and counties. All prosecuting attorneys throughout the state shall assist the commission or the board, upon request of either, in any action for injunction or any prosecution without charge or additional compensation. (b) The board may employ consultants to render professional services such as, but not limited to, reviewing medical records and providing expert testimony in contested cases, to aid the board in carrying out its lawful responsibilities of regulating the practice of medicine or osteopathy within the State of Alabama. Consultants shall be compensated for professional services at rates established by the board by regulation. In addition, consultants shall be reimbursed for actual reasonable expenses for travel, lodging, meals, long distance telephone expense, and other expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of the consultant’s professional services. (c) Members of the board may render professional services to the board as consultants and shall be reimbursed for those services and for expenses as provided in paragraph (b) above. No board member shall be reimbursed under this section for any day that the board member receives per diem and mileage reimbursement for attendance at board functions and travel pursuant to Section 34-24-54.