§ 13-506. Advisory Council -- Members

   (a) Appointment. --

   (1) The Advisory Council consists of 15 members appointed by the Governor.

   (2) Of the 15 members:

      (i) 2 shall be representatives of the physicians and arthritis health professionals at the State's 2 medical schools;

      (ii) 1 shall be a representative of the Department;

      (iii) 1 shall be a representative of the Division of Rehabilitation Services;

      (iv) 1 shall be a representative of the Department of Aging;

      (v) 1 shall be a representative of the Governor's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped;

      (vi) 3 shall be members of voluntary agencies, including the Maryland Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, the Maryland Lupus Foundation, and Home Health Care Inc.;

      (vii) 2 shall be representatives from hospitals or health professionals or both outside of the major metropolitan areas;

      (viii) 2 shall be representatives from the health care industry, including the pharmaceutical industry and third-party payors; and

      (ix) 2 shall be arthritic patients or family members of arthritic patients.

(b) Terms. --

   (1) The term of a member is 4 years.

   (2) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Advisory Council on July 1, 1989.

   (3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

   (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(c) Removal. -- The Governor may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.

HISTORY: 1985, ch. 250; 1992, ch. 71; 1998, ch. 573, § 5; ch. 574, § 5; 2002, ch. 215; 2005, ch. 25, § 7.