Section 5-804 - Composition; terms; removal; expenses; staff; chairperson; quorum; meetings.
§ 5-804. Composition; terms; removal; expenses; staff; chairperson; quorum; meetings.
(a) Composition.- The Committee shall consist of 18 members appointed by the Secretary, including the following:
(1) A licensed physician who is board certified in an appropriate specialty;
(2) A psychopharmacologist;
(3) A licensed physician on staff with the Department;
(4) Two specialists, one in the field of developmental disabilities and one in the field of mental health;
(5) Two licensed providers of community services, one for persons with developmental disabilities and one for persons with mental illnesses;
(6) Two consumers, one with a developmental disability and one with a mental illness;
(7) Two family members, one representing a consumer with a developmental disability and one representing a consumer with a mental illness;
(8) The Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health and Disabilities or the Deputy Secretary's designee;
(9) The Director of the Office of Health Care Quality;
(10) A licensed physician representative from the Medical Examiner's Office;
(11) A licensed nurse who works with persons with developmental disabilities in a program operated by a State licensed provider in the community;
(12) A member of an advocacy group for persons with disabilities; and
(13) Two members of advocacy groups, one for persons with developmental disabilities and one for persons with mental illnesses.
(b) Terms.-
(1) The term of each member appointed under subsection (a) (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), and (10) of this section is 3 years.
(2) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed.
(3) A member may not be appointed for more than two consecutive full terms.
(4) The terms of the members are as follows:
(i) One-third of the members shall be appointed for terms of 3 years commencing October 1, 2000;
(ii) One-third of the members shall be appointed for terms of 2 years commencing October 1, 2000; and
(iii) One-third of the members shall be appointed for terms of 1 year commencing October 1, 2000.
(5) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed.
(c) Removal of member.- The Secretary may remove any member of the Committee for good cause.
(d) Reimbursement for expenses.- A member of the Committee:
(1) May not receive compensation for service on the Committee; but
(2) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
(e) Staff.- The Committee shall be staffed by the Department.
(f) Membership limitations.-
(1) An employee of the Developmental Disabilities Administration or the Mental Hygiene Administration may not be a member of the Committee or any subcommittee of the Committee.
(2) The Director of the Office of Health Care Quality may not serve on a subcommittee of the Committee or vote on the disposition of an individual mortality review that was previously reviewed by the Office of Health Care Quality.
(g) Chairperson.- The Secretary shall select a chairperson from among the members of the Committee.
(h) Quorum.- A quorum of the Committee shall be a majority of the appointed membership of the Committee.
(i) Frequency of meetings.- The Committee shall meet not less than three times a year.
[2000, ch. 470; 2001, ch. 640; 2006, ch. 268; 2009, chs. 48, 49.]