Section 991.2303-A - Children's Health Advisory CouncilThe Children's Health Advisory Council is established within the department as an advisory council. The following apply:
(1) The council shall consist of 16 voting members. Members provided for in subparagraphs (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv) and (xvi) shall be appointed by the secretary. The council shall be geographically balanced on a Statewide basis and shall include: (i) The Secretary of Health ex officio or a designee.(ii) The Insurance Commissioner ex officio or a designee.(iii) The secretary ex officio or a designee.(iv) A representative with experience in children's health from a school of public health located in this Commonwealth.(v) A physician with experience in children's health appointed from a list of three qualified persons recommended by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.(vi) A representative of a children's hospital or a hospital with a pediatric outpatient clinic appointed from a list of three persons submitted by the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.(vii) A parent of a child who receives primary health care coverage from the fund.(viii) A mid-level professional appointed from lists of names recommended by Statewide associations representing mid-level health professionals.(ix) A senator appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate.(x) A senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.(xi) A representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(xii) A representative appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.(xiii) A representative from a private nonprofit foundation.(xiv) A representative of business who is not a contractor or provider of primary health care insurance under this article.(xv) A representative of a nonprofit business who is a contractor or provider of primary health insurance under this article.(xvi) A representative of a for profit business who is a contractor or provider of primary health insurance under this article.(2) If a specified organization ceases to exist or fails to make a recommendation within 90 days of a request, the council shall specify a new equivalent organization to fulfill the responsibilities of this section.(3) The secretary shall serve as chairperson of the council. The members of the council shall annually elect, by a majority vote of the members, a vice chairperson from among the members of the council.(4) The presence of nine members shall constitute a quorum for the transacting of any business. An act by a majority of the members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall be deemed to be that of the council.(5) All meetings of the council shall be conducted in accordance with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings), except as provided in this section. Meetings must be in accordance with the following:(i) The council shall meet at least twice per year and may provide for special meetings as the council deems necessary.(ii) Meeting dates shall be set by a majority vote of members of the council or by call of the chairperson upon seven days' notice to all members.(iii) The council shall publish notice of the council's meetings in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The notice must specify the date, time and place of the meeting and shall state that the council's meetings are open to the general public.(iv) All action taken by the council shall be taken in open public session and may not be taken except upon a majority vote of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.(6) The members of the council may not receive a salary or per diem allowance for serving as members of the council but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the members' duties.(7) Terms of council members shall be as follows: (i) The appointed members shall serve for a term of three years and shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed.(ii) An appointed member may not be eligible to serve more than two full consecutive terms of three years. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment within 60 days of the vacancy.(iii) An appointed member may be removed by the appointing authority for just cause and by a vote of at least seven members of the council.(8) The council shall review outreach activities and may make recommendations to the department.(9) The council shall review and evaluate the accessibility and availability of services delivered to children enrolled in the program.Added by P.L. TBD 2015 No. 84, § 3, eff. 12/20/2015.