Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages Charter

Members | Meeting Minutes | Charter

Purpose

The Advisory Committee shall provide advice and recommendations on a broad range of issues dealing with programs and activities authorized under Section 756 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

Authority

42 U.S.C. 294f, Section 756 of the PHS Act, as amended. The Advisory Committee is governed by provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2) which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Function

The Advisory Committee shall (1) provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary concerning policy and program development and other matters of significance concerning activities under Section 756, Title VII, Part D of the PHS Act; and (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report describing the activities of the Advisory Committee, including findings and recommendations made by the Committee.

Structure

The Advisory Committee shall consist of 21 members appointed by the Secretary. At least 75 percent of members shall be health professionals with a fair balance among the health professions. Of these health professionals, at least three members shall represent students, residents, and/or fellows from the programs reviewed by the Advisory Committee. Three members shall be from schools in Area Health Education Centers; three shall be from schools in Health Education and Training Centers; three shall be from schools in Geriatric Education and Training Programs; three shall be from schools with programs in the Allied Health disciplines; three shall be from schools with grants or contracts in the Quentin N. Burdick program for Rural Interdisciplinary Training; one shall be from a Chiropractic School; and one shall be from a school of Podiatric Medicine. One member shall represent a non-academic community-based partner who works with one of the programs covered by the Advisory Committee.

In selecting members the Secretary will ensure a broad geographic representation; a balance between urban and rural; and the appropriate representation of women and minorities. Members shall be appointed based on their competence, interest, and knowledge of the mission of the profession involved.

A member of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of three years. Members may continue to serve after the expiration of their terms, but no longer than 180 days.

A vacancy on the Advisory Committee 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. An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced.

Ad hoc subcommittees composed of selected members of the entire Advisory Committee may be established with the approval of the Secretary of HHS or his designee to perform specific functions within the Advisory Committee's jurisdiction.

The Advisory Committee shall elect one of its members as Chair and one as Vice-Chair. Eleven committee members shall constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in the Advisory Committee shall not affect its power to function.

Management and staff shall be provided by the Bureau of Health Professions program staff of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Meetings

Meetings shall be held at least three times a year at the call of the Designated Federal Officer or designee who shall approve the agenda and shall be present at all meetings. Meetings may be conducted through teleconferencing and/or other distance-based communications means. A Federal Government official shall be present at all meetings. Such meetings shall be held jointly with other related entities established under the Public Health Service Act, as amended, where appropriate.

Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary or other official to whom the authority has been delegated in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Notice of all meetings shall be available to the public.

The Advisory Committee shall prepare and make available an agenda of the matters to be considered at its meeting not later than 14 days prior to the convening of the meeting. Meeting materials with respect to issues to be addressed at the meeting shall be distributed at the meeting or prior to the meeting to the extent possible.

Not later than 30 days after the adjournment of a meeting, the Advisory Committee shall prepare and make available a summary of the meeting and any actions taken by the Advisory Committee based upon the meeting.

Compensation

Each member of the Advisory Committee shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for Level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of Title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Advisory Committee.

The members of the Advisory Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under Subchapter I of Chapter 57 of Title 5, U.S.C., while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Committee. Any such travel shall be approved by a Federal Government official in accordance with standard government travel regulations.

Annual Cost Estimates

Estimated annual costs for operating the Advisory Committee including compensation and travel expenses for three meetings per year, excluding Federal staff support, is $164,358. Estimate of staff-years of support required is 1.3 FTE at an estimated annual cost of $89,087.

Reports

The Advisory Committee shall annually prepare and submit to the Secretary and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report describing the activities of the Advisory Committee, including findings and recommendations made by the Advisory Committee.

In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c) and FACA, a report shall be prepared which shall contain, as a minimum, a list of members and their business addresses, the Advisory Committee's functions, dates and places of meetings, and a summary of Advisory Committee activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year. A copy of the report shall be provided to the Department Committee Management Officer.

Termination Date

Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the Advisory Committee on Interdisciplinary, Community-Based Linkages will terminate two years from the date this Charter is filed.

Approved:
Caroline Lewis
Acting Associate Administrator for Administration and Financial Management

CHARTER FILING DATE: 3/23/07