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There is created and established the Tennessee emergency medical services board by transfer and expansion of the duties and responsibilities of the EMS advisory council. The board shall consist of thirteen (13) members.
The members of the board shall be appointed by the governor, who may appoint such members in the following manner:
Two (2) licensed physicians, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested medical groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Medical Association;
One (1) registered nurse, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested nursing groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Nurses Association;
One (1) hospital administrator, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested hospital groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Hospital Association;
One (1) member who maintains certification or licensure as emergency medical services personnel, registered nurse, or physician and who is also affiliated with a volunteer nonprofit ambulance service;
Two (2) operators of ambulance services, each of whom maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel, who may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested ambulance services groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Ambulance Services Association;
One (1) rescue squad member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel. The rescue squad member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested rescue squad groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads;
One (1) professional firefighter member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel or registered nurse. The professional firefighter member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested firefighter groups, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Professional Firefighters Association;
One (1) member who maintains licensure as emergency medical services personnel. Such member may be selected from lists of qualified persons submitted by interested civil defense groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Civil Defense Association;
Two (2) officials of county, municipal or metropolitan governments which operate ambulance services; and
One (1) paramedic instructor from an accredited paramedic program licensed in this state.
The governor shall consult with interested emergency medical services groups including, but not limited to, the professional organizations listed in subsection (b) to determine qualified persons to fill the positions on the board.
Members, except those appointed to complete the term of a former member, shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years, or until their successors are appointed. Vacancies shall be filled through appointment by the governor, giving consideration to the recommendations of the board or interested emergency medical services groups listed in subsection (b). Any member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings may be removed from the board by the governor or by action of the majority of the board. In making appointments to the board, the governor shall strive to ensure that at least one (1) member serving on the board is sixty (60) years of age or older and that at least one (1) person serving on the board is a member of a racial minority.
As a vacancy occurs or as a term expires, the governor shall make appointments so that the board is structured as follows:
Four (4) members shall be residents of the eastern grand division;
Four (4) members shall be residents of the middle grand division;
Four (4) members shall be residents of the western grand division; and
One (1) member shall be an at-large member.
The interested emergency medical services groups shall submit names that satisfy the residency criteria of subdivision (d)(2)(A).
The chair shall be a member elected by the board. The chair shall be authorized to certify the actions of the board.
The board shall meet at the call of the chair. The chair shall convene at least two (2) meetings per year, such other meetings as are necessary to transact the business of the board, or upon receipt of a written request signed by three (3) or more members of the board. Seven (7) members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of meetings.
Notwithstanding subsection (d), any member who misses more than fifty percent (50%) of the scheduled meetings in a calendar year shall be removed as a member of the board.
The emergency medical services director shall promptly notify, or cause to be notified, the appointing authority of any member who fails to satisfy the attendance requirement as prescribed in subdivision (f)(2)(A).
The members of the board shall be paid a per diem of fifty dollars ($50.00) for attending board meetings and shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in attending board meetings, ad hoc committee activities or other travel incurred in the performance of the official duties, in accordance with the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the department of finance and administration and approved by the attorney general and reporter.
Administrative services for the board shall be provided by the department.
The board shall keep accurate minutes of the proceedings of all its meetings, a copy of which shall be kept on file in the office of the director and open to public inspection. Any rules adopted by the board shall be promulgated pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.