Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/815

 PUBLIC LAW 105-392—NOV. 13, 1998 112 STAT. 3573 nursing, and from representatives of advanced education nursing groups (such as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists), hospitals, and other institutions and organizations which provide nursing services; and "(B) the Secretary (or the delegate of the Secretary (who shall be an ex officio member and shall serve as the Chairperson)). "(2) APPOINTMENT. —Not later than 90 days after the date Deadline, of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint the members of the Advisory Council and each such member shall serve a 4 year term. In making such appointments, the Secretary shall ensure a fair balance between the nursing professions, a broad geographic representation of members and a balance between urban and rural members. Members shall be appointed based on their competence, interest, and knowledge of the mission of the profession involved. A majority of the members shall be nurses. "(3) MINORITY REPRESENTATION.— In appointing the members of the Advisory Council under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure the adequate representation of minorities. "(c) VACANCIES.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—^A vacsmcy on the Advisory Council shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made and shall be subject to any conditions which applied with respect to the original appointment. "(2) FILLING UNEXPIRED TERM.— An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced. "(d) DUTIES.— -The Advisory Council shall— "(1) provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary and Congress concerning policy matters arising in the administration of this title, including the range of issues relating to the nurse workforce, education, and practice improvement; "(2) provide advice to the Secretary and Congress in the preparation of general regulations and with respect to policy matters arising in the administration of this title, including the range of issues relating to nurse supply, education gind practice improvement; and "(3) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment Deadline, of this section, and annually thereafter, prepare and submit Reports, to the Secretary, the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report describing the activities of the Council, including findings and recommendations made by the Council concerning the activities under this title. " (e) MEETINGS AND DOCUMENTS.— "(1) MEETINGS. —The Advisory Council shall meet not less than 2 times each year. Such meetings shall be held jointly with other related entities established under this title where appropriate. "(2) DOCUMENTS.— Not later than 14 days prior to the Deadlines, convening of a meeting under paragraph (1), the Advisory Council shall prepare and make available an agenda of the matters to be considered by the Advisory Council at such meeting. At any such meeting, the Advisory Council shall distribute materials with respect to the issues to be addressed at the

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