(a) The task force shall consist of no more than 10 members, including, but not be limited to, representatives with PEP experience from all of the following:
(1) Research scientists.
(2) Patients who have received PEP treatment.
(3) HIV physicians or clinicians.
(4) HIV prevention, education, or mental health providers.
(5) Public health officials.
(6) The Office of AIDS.
(7) Health plan representatives.
(b) A representative of the Office of AIDS shall serve as the chair of the task force and shall coordinate the proceedings and actions of the task force as necessary and appropriate.
(c) The department shall designate a physician member of the task force to serve as the cochair of the task force. The cochair shall consult with and advise the department and draft the recommendations for the use of PEP in the general population. The cochair shall serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses beyond any existing contract with the department, consistent with subdivision (f).
(d) The task force shall be implemented only through existing state resources.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (d), the department may seek assistance, including financial and in-kind assistance, from other government, educational, and private sources for purposes of convening the task force and developing the recommendations required by this section.
(f) Representatives appointed to the task force shall serve without compensation and without reimbursement of expenses beyond any existing contract with the department. If the department is unable to secure representatives willing to serve on the task force without compensation or reimbursement for expenses beyond any existing contract with the department, the department may choose not to convene the task force or develop recommendations required by this section.
(g) The recommendations produced by the task force shall be approved by the department in consultation with the cochair and shall be made available through posting on the department’s Web site. The department is not required to print or mail the recommendations.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 746, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)