26:13-24 State Public Health Emergency Claim Reimbursement Board.

24. a. There is hereby established in the Department of Health a State Public Health Emergency Claim Reimbursement Board. The board shall include the following members: the Commissioner of Health, who shall be the presiding officer, the Attorney General, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, the State Director of Emergency Management, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the State Medical Examiner, and the State Treasurer, or their designees. The members of the board shall serve without pay in connection with all such duties as are prescribed in this act.

b. The board shall meet at such times as may be necessary to fulfill the requirements set forth herein. The Commissioner of Health shall convene the board within 45 days of the filing of a complete petition. The concurrence of six members of the board shall be necessary for the validity of all acts of the board.

c. Subject to available appropriations, the board shall have the authority to award reasonable reimbursement, as determined by the board, for any services required of any person under the provisions of this act, which shall be paid at the prevailing established rate for services of a like or similar nature as determined by the board. Subject to available appropriations, the board shall have the authority to award reasonable reimbursement, as determined by the board, for any property employed, taken, or used under the provisions of this act.

d. All awards shall be paid from any funds appropriated by the State, any political subdivision of the State, or the federal government, for such purpose. In awarding reimbursement under this section, the board shall take into account any funds, or any other thing of value, received by a claimant from any other source, including but not limited to private donations, contributions, and insurance proceeds. The board shall not award reimbursement unless the claimant has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the board, that the claimant has first sought reimbursement for any loss incurred due to the declaration of a public health emergency from any and all appropriate third party payers.

L.2005, c.222, s.24; amended 2012, c.17, s.357.