§ 23-64.1-3. Renaming and establishment. (a) The minority health advisory committee established by the Rhode Island department of health pursuant to the goals of chapter 23-64 is hereby renamed the commission for health advocacy and equity. The director of the department of health shall appoint twenty (20) individuals who shall be individuals with working and practical knowledge of social determinants of health, the majority of whom shall be representatives of the racial and ethnic minority population of the State of Rhode Island. Not more than fifteen percent (15%) of the members shall be affiliates with a grantee of the office of minority health of the department of health. Members shall be authorized to appoint a designee. The director may also appoint staff of the department as ex officio members of the committee to serve as a liaison between the committee and their specific departmental programs. Such ex officio members shall not be counted for the purpose of determining a quorum and shall not be eligible to vote.

(b) Commission members shall serve without compensation and shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Commission members may be reappointed for an additional three (3) year term provided that no member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms, regardless of the total number of years served, or a maximum of six (6) consecutive years, after which an individual shall be ineligible for membership for a period of one year.

(c) The terms of current members of the department's minority health advisory committee, renamed the commission for health advocacy and equity by this section, shall remain in effect upon passage and shall not be impacted by any provision of this section.

History of Section. (P.L. 2011, ch. 155, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 172, § 2.)