Section 1602-V - Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council.(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council is established within the department.(b) Membership.--The council shall be composed of and appointed in accordance with the following: (1) The Secretary of Aging.(2) The Secretary of Health.(3) The Secretary of Human Services.(4) The Insurance Commissioner.(5) The Adjutant General.(6) The Secretary of Transportation.(7) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.(8) Two members of the Senate, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore and one appointed by the Minority Leader.(9) Two members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the Minority Leader.(10) The following members to be appointed by the Governor, in consultation with the Secretary of Aging: (i) One representative from the Pennsylvania Council on Aging.(ii) One member who represents the local area agencies on aging.(iii) Six members who represent consumer advocacy groups, with at least two being consumers of long-term care services.(iv) One member who represents the elder law section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.(v) One member who is a licensed insurance producer with at least 10 years' experience in the long-term care insurance market.(vi) Seven members who represent providers throughout the long-term care continuum, with no more than one member representing a single provider group, as follows:(A) One member representing nonprofit skilled nursing facilities.(B) One member representing for-profit skilled nursing facilities.(C) One member representing assisted living residences or personal care homes.(D) One member representing home care or hospice.(E) One member representing older adult daily living centers.(F) One member representing senior community centers.(G) One member representing long-term care managed care.(vii) Two members with caregiver experience, at least one of whom has personal experience as a family caregiver.(viii) Two members who represent the medical community, one of whom must be a physician with at least five years' experience in a long-term care setting and the other of whom must be a nurse with at least five years' experience in a long-term care setting.(ix) Two members who represent an academic research institution.(x) One member who represents the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.(xi) The chair of the State Veterans Commission or a designee.(xii) One member who represents the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman within the department.(c) Designee.--With the exception of the chairperson, governmental members may appoint a designee to attend and vote at meetings of the council. Each governmental member who appoints a designee shall do so by sending a letter to the chairperson stating the name of that designee.(d) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Aging shall serve as chairperson.(e) Executive director.--The Secretary of Aging shall appoint an executive director of the council.(f)Terms of members.-- (1) The terms of those members who serve in accordance with subsection (b)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) shall be concurrent with their service in the office from which they derive their membership.(2) Members appointed in accordance with subsection (b) (8) and (9) shall serve terms conterminous with their respective appointing authorities.(3) Of the members appointed by the Governor, no less than one-third of the members shall be appointed to serve a two-year initial term, no less than one-third of the members shall be appointed to serve a three-year initial term, and the remaining members shall serve a four-year term. Members of the council shall serve for terms of four years after completion of the initial terms as designated in this section.(4) Members shall be eligible for reappointment but shall serve no more than two consecutive full terms. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, provided they represent the interests of the membership class for which they were appointed.(g)Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by the original appointing authority. An individual appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the balance of the previous member's term.(h)Removal.--In addition to the provisions of subsection (f)(1) and (2), members may be removed from the board for the following reasons:(1) A member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings shall forfeit his or her seat unless the chairperson, upon written request from the member, finds that the member should be excused from a meeting.(2) A member shall forfeit his or her seat if he or she no longer represents the interests of the membership class for which he or she was appointed. Specifically, a member meeting this threshold shall no longer be employed or associated with the interests of the respective qualification for which he or she was appointed.(i)Expenses.--Members may not receive compensation or remuneration for their service as council members or as committee members. Nongovernmental council members shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel and related actual expenses accrued in the performance of their duties as members, in accordance with Commonwealth travel policy. Committee members who are not members of the council may not receive reimbursement.Added by P.L. TBD 2023 No. 34,§ 8, eff. 12/13/2023.