90-414.8. North Carolina Health Information Exchange Advisory Board.

(a) Creation and Membership. - There is hereby established the North Carolina Health Information Exchange Advisory Board within the Department of Information Technology. The Advisory Board shall consist of the following 12 members:

(1) The following four members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate:

a. A licensed physician in good standing and actively practicing in this State.

b. A patient representative.

c. An individual with technical expertise in health data analytics.

d. A representative of a behavioral health provider.

(2) The following four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

a. A representative of a critical access hospital.

b. A representative of a federally qualified health center.

c. An individual with technical expertise in health information technology.

d. A representative of a health system or integrated delivery network.

(3) The following three ex officio, nonvoting members:

a. The State Chief Information Officer or a designee.

b. The Director of GDAC or a designee.

c. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, or a designee.

(4) The following ex officio, voting member:

a. The Executive Administrator of the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees, or a designee.

(b) Chairperson. - A chairperson shall be elected from among the members. The chairperson shall organize and direct the work of the Advisory Board.

(c) Administrative Support. - The Department of Information Technology shall provide necessary clerical and administrative support to the Advisory Board.

(d) Meetings. - The Advisory Board shall meet at least quarterly and at the call of the chairperson. A majority of the Advisory Board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

(e) Terms. - In order to stagger terms, in making initial appointments, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate two of the members appointed under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section to serve for a one-year period from the date of appointment and, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate two members appointed under subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section to serve for a one-year period from the date of appointment. The remaining appointed voting members shall serve two-year periods. Future appointees who are voting members shall serve terms of two years, with staggered terms based on this subsection. Appointed voting members may serve up to two consecutive terms, not including the abbreviated two-year terms that establish staggered terms or terms of less than two years that result from the filling of a vacancy. Ex officio, nonvoting and voting members are not subject to these term limits. A vacancy other than by expiration of a term shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(f) Expenses. - Members of the Advisory Board who are State officers or employees shall receive no compensation for serving on the Advisory Board but may be reimbursed for their expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-6. Members of the Advisory Board who are full-time salaried public officers or employees other than State officers or employees shall receive no compensation for serving on the Advisory Board but may be reimbursed for their expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5(b). All other members of the Advisory Board may receive compensation and reimbursement for expenses in accordance with G.S. 138-5.

(g) Duties. - The Advisory Board shall provide consultation to the Authority with respect to the advancement, administration, and operation of the HIE Network and on matters pertaining to health information technology and exchange, generally. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Advisory Board may form committees of the Advisory Board to examine particular issues related to the advancement, administration, or operation of the HIE Network.