Chapter 5 Association
Article 46
Occupational therapist’s associations shall be governed by the authority in charge of civil associations. However, the target businesses of civil associations shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the competent authority.
Article 47
Occupational therapist’s associations are divided into municipal and county (city) associations. A national federation of occupational therapist’s associations may also be established.
Article 48
The organizational areas of occupational therapist’s associations shall correspond to the existing administrative districts. There shall be no more than one association of the same level within the same district.
Article 49
A municipal or county (city) occupational therapist’s association shall be initiated and organized by at least 9 practicing occupational therapists in the relevant area. If there are less than 9 occupational therapists, they may join the association in the vicinity or organize an association together with their counterparts in the neighboring district.
Article 50
The national federation of occupational therapist’s associations shall be established only after 1/3 or more of the municipal or county (city) occupational therapist’s associations have been established.
Article 51
An occupational therapist’s association shall have directors and supervisors, to be elected by its members (member representatives) during the general members’ (member representatives’) meetings, who shall constitute the board of directors and the board of supervisors. The numbers of directors and supervisors are as follows:
1. There shall be no more than 27 directors for a municipal or county (city) occupational therapist’s association.
2. There shall be no more than 35 directors for the national federation of occupational therapist’s associations.
3. The number of directors for occupational therapist’s associations at each level shall not exceed fifty percent of all members (member representatives).
4. The number of supervisors for occupational therapist’s associations at each level shall not exceed one-third of the number of directors for the association.
Occupational therapist’s associations at each level may have alternate directors and alternate supervisors, the number of which shall not exceed one-third 1/3 of the number of directors or supervisors for the association.
When there are 3 or more directors or supervisors, managing directors and managing supervisors may be elected among themselves, the number of which shall not exceed 1/3 of the total number of directors or supervisors. Chairman of the board of directors shall be elected by the directors among the managing directors. If there is no managing director, the chairman shall be elected by the directors among themselves. If there are 3 or more managing supervisors, a convener for the board of supervisors shall be elected among themselves.
Article 52
Directors and supervisors shall both serve a term of 3 years. No more than fifty percent of existing directors and supervisors shall be re-elected. The elected chairman may only serve maximum of two consecutive terms.
Article 52-1
The directors and supervisors of a higher-level occupational therapist’s association do not need to be member representatives assigned by a lower-level occupational therapist’s association.
The member representatives assigned by a lower-level occupational therapist’s association to participate in a higher-level occupational therapist’s association do not need to be directors or supervisors of such lower-level occupational therapist’s association.
Article 53
Occupational therapist’s associations shall hold one general members’ (member representative’s) meetings every year. Extraordinary meetings may be held as required.
When an occupational therapist’s association has more than 300 members, proportional representatives may be elected by area based on the member distribution status in accordance the articles of association. Such member representatives may hold member representatives’ meetings to perform the functions of members’ meetings.
Article 54
Occupational therapist’s associations shall formulate articles of association, prepare a members’ list and a list of elected staff and their resumes for submission to the local authority in charge of civil associations, which shall be further forwarded to the central and local competent authorities for records.
Article 55
The articles of association of occupational therapist’s associations at each level shall specify the following:
1. Name, area, and location of the association.
2. Objective, organization, and mission.
3. Admission and dismissal of members.
4. Membership fee and payment deadline.
5. Selection of member representatives and determination of their terms.
6. Number of directors and supervisors, their authorities, terms, election, and dismissal.
7. Rules about members’ (member representatives’) meetings and meetings of the board of directors and the board of supervisors.
8. Members’ regulations.
9. Budget and accounts.
10. Amendments to the articles of association.
11. Other matters that should be specified in accordance with the law or matters that are required for the handling of the affairs of the association.
Article 55-1
When an occupational therapist’s association breaches the law or the articles of association, the authority in charge of civil associations may impose the following sanctions:
1. Warning.
2. Revocation of resolution.
3. Dismissal of its directors or supervisors.
4. Order for remedy before a deadline.
The sanctions under Subparagraphs 1 or 2 of the previous paragraph may also be imposed by the competent authority.
Article 55-2
Municipal or county (city) occupational therapist’s associations are obliged to comply with the articles of association and the resolutions of the national federation of occupational therapist’s associations.
Article 56
When a member of an occupational therapist’s association commits an act in breach of the law or its articles of association, the association may impose sanction in accordance with its articles of association or a resolution of the board of directors, board of supervisors or member’s (member representatives’) meeting.
Article 57
The provisions about occupational therapist’s associations under this chapter shall apply mutatis mutandis to the organization of occupational therapist assistant’s associations.