(a) There is created the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program Advisory Council.

(b) The council shall consist of eleven (11) members to be appointed by the Governor as follows:

(1) Three (3) members from the Department of Health to be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Director of the Department of Health and subject to confirmation by the Senate;

(2) Two (2) members from the College of Medicine of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Dean of the College of Medicine of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and subject to confirmation by the Senate;

(3) One (1) member from the College of Nursing of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Dean of the College of Nursing of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and subject to confirmation by the Senate;

(4) One (1) member from the Arkansas Nurses Association;

(5) One (1) member from the School of Social Work of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to be appointed by the Governor after consulting the Director of the School of Social Work of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and subject to confirmation by the Senate;

(6) One (1) member from the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Human Services; and

(7) Two (2) members from the public at large, at least one (1) of whom shall be active in child advocacy within the state and one (1) of whom shall be African-American.

(c) The Director of the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program shall serve as an ex officio member of the council.

(d) Members shall be appointed for three-year staggered terms. The staggered terms shall be assigned by lot. The terms shall commence on January 15 of each year.

(e) In the event of a vacancy of one (1) of the members appointed by the Governor for any reason other than expiration of a regular term, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by appointment of the Governor, and that person shall possess the same qualifications as are required for initial appointment.

(f) Members of the council shall not be entitled to compensation for their services but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-902 to be paid by the Department of Health.

(g) The council shall hold its first meeting during January 2000 at a place and time designated by the Governor.

(h) At the initial organizational meeting of the council, the members shall elect from among their number a chair and vice chair. Annually thereafter, a meeting shall be held to elect the chair and vice chair.

(i)

(1) Quarterly meetings of the council shall be held.

(2) Special meetings may be called by the chair or as provided by the rules of the council.

(j) The council shall monitor the Rita Rowell Hale Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program as needed to ensure that the program is implemented according to the program training requirements, program protocols, program management information systems, and program evaluation requirements established by the department. The council shall evaluate the overall implementation of the program and include the evaluation, along with any recommendations concerning the selected entities or changes in the program training requirements, program protocols, program management information systems, or program evaluation requirements in the annual report submitted to the department.

(k) The program staff shall submit a written status report annually to the council.