(a) There shall be an Advisory Board of the Workers' Compensation Commission to advise the chairman on matters concerning policy for and the operation of the commission. The advisory board shall consist of eight members, who shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly. Four of such members shall represent employees and four shall represent employers. One of such members representing employees shall be an individual who has suffered an extensive disability arising out of and in the course of his employment. One of such members representing employers shall be a representative of a major general hospital in the state. On or before January 1, 1992, the Governor shall appoint, and the General Assembly shall confirm, such members of the advisory board as follows: Two shall serve a term of four years from said date, one of whom shall represent employees and one of whom shall represent employers; two shall serve a term of three years from said date, one of whom shall represent employees and one of whom shall represent employers; two shall serve a term of two years from said date, one of whom shall represent employees and one of whom shall represent employers; and two shall serve a term of one year from said date, one of whom shall represent employees and one of whom shall represent employers. Thereafter such members shall be appointed for a term of four years from January first in the year of their appointment. Any vacancy on the advisory board shall be filled for the remainder of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall serve as an ex-officio member of the advisory board without the power to vote.

(b) The appointed members of the advisory board shall select a ninth member who shall be impartial and shall serve as the chairman of the advisory board. The members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation. Each member shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred by the member in the performance of his duties. The advisory board shall not be construed to be a board or commission subject to the provisions of section 4-9a. The Workers' Compensation Commission shall provide such staff as is necessary for the performance of the functions and duties of the advisory board.

(c) The advisory board shall meet at least twice in each calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairman or the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission deem necessary. All actions of the advisory board shall require the affirmative vote of six members of the advisory board. The advisory board may bring any matter related to the operation of the workers' compensation system to the attention of the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission. The advisory board may adopt any rules of procedure that the board deems necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter.

(d) The advisory board shall submit its written recommendations concerning the reappointment of each compensation commissioner to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than three months before the expiration of the term of the commissioner.

(P.A. 91-339, S. 3, 55.)