A. There is hereby created until July 1, 2010, the “Compassionate Care Task Force”. The Compassionate Care Task Force shall be composed of the following members:

1. The Attorney General, or a designee;

2. The Commissioner of the State Department of Health, or a designee;

3. The Director of the Department of Human Services, or a designee;

4. The Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or a designee;

5. The Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, as created under the direction of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in July 2000, or a designee;

6. Two bipartisan members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives;

7. Two bipartisan members of the Oklahoma State Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate;

8. One member of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department; and

9. One member of the Tulsa City-County Health Department.

B. 1. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. A vacancy on the Task Force shall be filled by the original appointing authority.

2. A majority of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the members present at a meeting may act for the Task Force.

3. The chair shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on or before August 1, 2008. The vice-chair shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate on or before August 1, 2008.

4. The chair shall convene the first meeting of the Task Force on or before September 1, 2008. The Task Force shall meet as often as necessary.

5. Task Force members employed by the state shall be reimbursed for travel expenses related to their service on the Task Force by their respective agencies pursuant to the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act. Legislative members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed for their necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. Staff of the State Department of Health shall serve as primary staff for the Task Force. The Task Force may use the expertise and services of the staffs of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate and may, if necessary, seek the advice and services of experts in the field as well as other necessary professional and clerical staff.

D. All departments, officers, agencies and employees of this state shall cooperate with the Task Force in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to, providing any information, records, or reports requested by the Task Force.

E. The meetings of the Task Force shall be subject to the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

F. The Compassionate Care Task Force shall determine and make recommendations regarding:

1. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations in the Oklahoma health care system;

2. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations in community-based health education, advocacy and direct care for the uninsured;

3. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations in improving access to health care and ensuring affordable and stable health care coverage;

4. The level of collaboration between charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations and public health agencies in the state;

5. The utilization of health-related services currently being provided by charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations in the state; and

6. The role of charitable, voluntary, and faith-based organizations and the pandemic influenza preparedness plan for Oklahoma.

G. The Compassionate Care Task Force shall provide a progress report in electronic form to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on or before March 1 of each year.

Added by Laws 2008, c. 153, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008.