P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 3154
The Hereditary Disease Council of Puerto Rico is hereby created to advise the Secretary of Health, and which shall be composed of seven (7) members, four (4) of which shall be physicians duly authorized to practice their profession in Puerto Rico, one (1) shall represent the Secretary of the Department of Health, one (1) shall represent the consumers of medical services and one (1) shall be connected with the Education Program for health professionals. The members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Secretary of Health, for a term of five (5) years each, and shall hold office until their successors are appointed and take office.
The initial appointments shall be in the following manner: three (3) for a five- (5) year term; two (2) for a four- (4) year term, and two (2) for a two- (2) year term.
No member of the Council shall be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive terms. The time during which any member continues to hold office after the expiration of the term of his appointment shall be deemed as part of the period corresponding to his successor, so that, with respect to time, the subsequent appointments will continue the the same relationship existing when the first were made.
(a) Vacancy. — Any vacancy that arises among the members of the Council shall be filled for the unexpired term of the member who causes it.
(b) Separation from office. — The Governor may separate any member of the Council from office for inability to carry out his office, manifest incompetence in the performance of his duties, abandonment of his functions, misconduct or repeated absences from the Council meetings without a justified excuse.
(c) The Council shall adopt bylaws for its internal operations, which shall establish the adequate procedure for considering matters within its jurisdiction and for the election of the President, Vice-President and Recording Secretary, as well as of any other official it deems necessary.
(d) The Council shall meet at least twice (2) a year and may hold any special meetings deemed necessary for the full performance of its functions, upon due summons to such effects. Four (4) members of the Council shall constitute a quorum and all matters must be resolved by a majority vote of its members.
(e) The members of the Council shall receive per diems of fifty dollars ($50) for each day they attend meetings or in which they perform other official duties of their office. They shall also be entitled to reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to the regulations established by the Secretary of the Treasury to such effects.
(f) The Secretary of Health shall be responsible for providing the facilities, equipment and clerical personnel needed for the performance of the duties of the Council.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 84, p. 318, § 4.