§ 7B-1402.5.  Task Force - organization; committees, leadership, policies and procedures; public meetings.

(a) Committees. - The Task Force shall carry out its duties through the work of the following three committees:

(1) A Perinatal Health Committee to address healthy pregnancies, births, and infants.

(2) An Unintentional Death Prevention Committee to address the prevention of deaths resulting from unintentional causes such as motor vehicle or bicycle accidents, poisoning, burning, or drowning.

(3) An Intentional Death Prevention Committee to address the prevention of deaths resulting from intentional causes such as homicide, suicide, abuse, or neglect; and to address the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

(b) Committee Recommendations. - Each Committee shall develop and submit recommendations to the Task Force for consideration. Recommendations shall become final upon the majority vote of the Task Force.

(c) Leadership. - The leadership of the Task Force and its committees shall be organized as follows:

(1) Task Force chair or cochairs. - Task Force members shall elect by a majority vote a chair or two cochairs from among its membership. The Task Force chair or cochairs shall serve for a term of two years and are not subject to term limits.

(2) Committee cochairs. - Task Force members shall elect by a majority vote of the Task Force two cochairs per committee, at least one of whom shall be a Task Force member and one of whom may be a nonmember with expertise in the subject matter of the committee. The committee cochairs shall serve for a term of two years and are not subject to term limits.

(3) Staff. - The Task Force chair or cochairs shall work with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to hire or designate staff to coordinate the work of the Task Force and its committees. The Secretary shall determine placement of such staff within the Department. In addition to general coordination of the work of the Task Force, Task Force staff may do the following:

a. Educate organizations and individuals, including members of the General Assembly, about the work of the Task Force and its recommendations.

b. Serve as a representative of the Task Force.

c. Assist the Task Force chair in working to advance Task Force recommendations.

d. Assist in any way the Task Force chair or committee cochairs deem necessary in carrying out the duties of the Task Force.

(d) Policies and Procedures. - The Task Force chair or cochairs, committee cochairs, and director or coordinator shall develop, and from time to time revise as necessary, policies and procedures to facilitate the efficient and effective operations of the Task Force. These policies and procedures and any recommended revisions become effective upon approval by a majority vote of the Task Force. The policies and procedures shall address, at a minimum, the following:

(1) The Task Force study process.

(2) Nominations for leadership positions.

(3) Committee membership, including any participation by individuals who are not members of the Task Force.

(4) Conflicts of interest.  (2023-134, s. 9H.15(f); 2024-1, s. 3.6(a).)