143-510. North Carolina Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.

(a) There is created the North Carolina Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council to consult with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services in the administration of this Article.

The North Carolina Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council shall consist of 25 members.

(1) Twenty-one of the members shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services as follows:

a. Three of the members shall represent the North Carolina Medical Society and include one licensed pediatrician, one surgeon, and one public health physician.

b. Three members shall represent the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians, two of whom shall be current local EMS Medical Directors.

c. One member shall represent the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

d. One member shall represent the North Carolina Association of Rescue and Emergency Medical Services.

e. One member shall represent the North Carolina Association of EMS Administrators.

f. One member shall represent the North Carolina Hospital Association.

g. One member shall represent the North Carolina Nurses Association.

h. One member shall represent the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.

i. One member shall represent the North Carolina Medical Board.

j. One member shall represent the American Heart Association, North Carolina Council.

k. One member shall represent the American Red Cross.

l. The remaining six members shall be appointed so as to fairly represent the general public, credentialed and practicing EMS personnel, EMS educators, local public health officials, and other EMS interest groups in North Carolina.

(2) Two members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3) Two members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

The membership of the Council shall, to the extent possible, reflect the gender and racial makeup of the population of the State.

(b) The members of the Council appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall serve initial terms as follows:

(1) The members appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall serve initial terms as follows:

a. Five members shall serve initial terms of one year;

b. Five members shall serve initial terms of two years;

c. Five members shall serve initial terms of three years; and

d. Six members shall serve initial terms of four years.

(2) The members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall serve initial terms as follows:

a. One member shall serve an initial term of two years; and

b. One member shall serve an initial term of four years.

(3) The members appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of the Representatives shall serve initial terms as follows:

a. One member shall serve an initial term of two years; and

b. One member shall serve an initial term of four years. Thereafter, all terms shall be four years.

(c) Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council created by the resignation, dismissal, death, or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. Vacancies on the Council among the membership nominated by a society, association, or foundation as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be filled by appointment of the Secretary upon consideration of a nomination by the executive committee or other authorized agent of the society, association, or foundation until the next meeting of the society, association, or foundation at which time the society, association, or foundation shall nominate a member to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

(d) The members of the Council shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5.

(e) A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All clerical and other services required by the Council shall be supplied by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation, Office of Emergency Medical Services.

(f) The Council shall elect annually from its membership a chairperson and vice-chairperson upon a majority vote of the quorum present.