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Mission
and Charter
Purpose
The Director’s Council of Public Representatives (COPR; also referred
to as “Committe”) provides advice and recommendations to, and
consults with, the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH), regarding
matters related to medical research, NIH policies and programs, and public
participation in agency activities.
Authority
42 U.S.C. 282(b)(6), section 402(b)(6) of the Public Health Service (PHS)
Act, as amended. The Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and
use of advisory committees.
Function
The COPR shall consult with, and advise and make recommendations to the
Director, NIH, on issues and concerns that are important to the broad
development of NIH programmatic and research priorities. The COPR shall
also assist the NIH in enhancing the participation of the public in NIH
activities that have an impact upon the public, in increasing public understanding
of the NIH and its programs, and in bringing important matters of public
interest forward for discussion in public settings. As needed, the COPR
may seek advice from special consultants, assemble ad hoc working groups,
and convene conferences, workshops or other activities.
Structure
The COPR shall consist of up to 21 members appointed by the Director,
NIH, who shall also serve as Chair. Members shall represent the various
publics interested in NIH and may include patients and family members
of patients; health professionals; members of patient advocacy groups;
individuals who work as volunteers in the health care field; scientists
and students of science; communicators in health, medicine and science;
individuals in public service, academia, and professional societies relating
to the medical field. None of these members serve as Representatives. A quorum for the conduct of business by the full Comitee shall consist of a majority of currently appointed members. A quorum for the conduct of each subcomitee shall be three members.
Members shall be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to four
years. Members may serve after the expiration of that member's term until
a successor has taken office. Terms of more than two years are contingent
upon the renewal of the COPR’s Charter by appropriate action prior to
its termination.
As necessary, subcommittees may be established to
perform specific functions within the COPR’s jurisdiction. The advice/recommendations of a subcommitee mut be deliberated by the parent advisory commitee. A subcommitee may not report directly to a Federal official unless there is statutory authority to do so.
Subcommittee membership may be drawn in whole or in part by the parent advisory committee. All subcommittee members may vote on subcommittee actions and all subcommittee member’s count towards the quorum for a subcommittee meeting. Ad hoc consultants do not count towards the quorum and may not vote. Subcommittee members who are not members of the parent committee may attend close sessions of the parent committee meeting but they may not count towards the quorum of the parent committee and they cannot vote on committee actions
The Department Committee Management Officer shall be notified upon the establishment of each standing subcommittee and shall be given information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings. Management and support services shall be provided by the Office of the Director, NIH.
Meetings
Meetings shall be held approximately two times a year, at the call of
the Executive Secretary or other designated official, with the advance approval of a Government official or upon request of the Director, NIH. A government official shall approve the agenda and a Government official shall be present at all
meetings of the full Committee or of any subcommittee.
Meetings shall be open to the public unless determined otherwise by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with subsection (c) of section 552b of title 5, U.S.C. Notice of all meetings shall be
given to the public.
Meetings shall be conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required
by applicable laws and Departmental policies.
Compensation
Members shall be paid at the rate of $200 per day, plus per diem and
travel expenses, as authorized by section 5703, Title 5 U.S.C., as amended,
for persons in the Government Service employed intermittently. Members
who are officers or employees of the United States shall not receive compensation
for service on the COPR.
Annual Cost Estimate
The estimated annual costs for operating the COPR, including compensation
and travel expenses for members but excluding staff support, is $222,351.
Estimate of annual person-years of staff support required is 1.30 at an
approximate annual cost of $135,248.
Reports
In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 522b (c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a report shall be prepared which shall contain, as a minimum, a list of members and their business addresses, the Committee's functions, dates and places of meetings, and a summary of 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 Charter
for the Director's Council of Public Representatives will expire November
4, 2008.
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