Section 5-804 - Composition; terms; removal; expenses; staff; chairperson; quorum; meetings. - Maryland Statutes

§ 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.]