(a) The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, created and established by former §16-4C-7 of this code, is continued for the purpose of developing, with the commissioner, standards for emergency medical services personnel and for the purpose of providing advice to the Office of Emergency Medical Services and the commissioner with respect to reviewing and making recommendations for, and providing assistance to, the establishment and maintenance of adequate emergency medical services for all portions of this state.

(b) The council shall have the duty to advise the commissioner in all matters pertaining to his or her duties and functions in relation to carrying out the purposes of this article.

(c) The council shall be composed of 18 members appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Mountain State Emergency Medical Services Association shall submit to the Governor a list of six names of representatives from its Association and a list of three names shall be submitted to the Governor of representatives of their respective organizations by the County Commissioners" Association of West Virginia, the West Virginia State Firemen"s Association, the West Virginia Hospital Association, the West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association, the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Coalition, the Ambulance Association of West Virginia, and the state Department of Education. The Governor shall appoint from the respective lists submitted two persons who represent the Mountain State Emergency Medical Services Association, one of whom shall be a paramedic and one of whom shall be an emergency medical technician-basic; and one person from the County Commissioners" Association of West Virginia, the West Virginia State Firemen"s Association, the West Virginia Hospital Association, the West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Administrators Association, the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Coalition, the Ambulance Association of West Virginia, and the state Department of Education. In addition, the Governor shall appoint the following:

(1) One person to represent emergency medical services providers operating within the state;

(2) One person to represent small emergency medical services providers operating within this state;

(3) One person to represent emergency medical services training officers or representatives;

(4) Two people to represent emergency medical services supervisors or administrators; and

(5) Three persons to represent the general public who shall serve as voting members.

(d) Not more than six of the members may be appointed from any one congressional district.

(e) Each term is to be for three years, and no member may serve more than four consecutive terms.

(f) The council shall choose its own chairman and meet at the call of the commissioner at least twice a year.

(g) The members of the council shall receive compensation and expense reimbursement in an amount not to exceed the same compensation and expense reimbursement as is paid to members of the Legislature for their interim duties as recommended by the Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission and authorized by law for each day, or substantial portion thereof, engaged in the performance of official duties.