§2844. Governing board; membership; appointment; terms; compensation; vacancies

            A. There is hereby established within the department the Louisiana Emergency Response Network Board.

            B. The network shall be governed by a board of twenty-nine members which shall include:

            (1) One cardiologist from nominees submitted by the Louisiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology.

            (2) One member from nominees submitted by the Rural Hospital Coalition to represent hospitals with fewer than sixty beds.

            (3) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana Hospital Association to represent hospitals with one hundred beds or more.

            (4) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana Hospital Association to represent a service district hospital.

            (5) Two members from nominees submitted by the Louisiana Department of Health which shall include a member from the office of behavioral health.

            (6) One member from nominees submitted by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

            (7) Two members from nominees submitted by the Louisiana State Medical Society which shall include a member specializing in pediatric surgery.

            (8) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana Medical Association.

            (9) One member from nominees submitted by the Committee on Trauma or American College of Surgeons.

            (10) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana American College of Emergency Physicians.

            (11) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport.

            (12) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans.

            (13) One member from nominees submitted by Tulane University Health Sciences Center.

            (14) One member from nominees submitted by the Louisiana State Coroners Association.

            (15) Two members from the Louisiana House of Representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

            (16) Two members from the Louisiana Senate to be appointed by the president of the Senate.

            (17) One member who is an EMS practitioner from a list of nominees submitted by the Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians (LANREMT).

            (18) One member of the Louisiana Rural Ambulance Alliance.

            (19) One 911 member of the National Emergency Number Association.

            (20) One member of the Louisiana Hospital Association to represent hospitals providing rehabilitation services.

            (21) One physician from nominees submitted by the American Stroke Association.

            (22) One registered nurse practicing in emergency or critical care from nominees submitted by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

            (23) One medical director of an emergency medical services agency from nominees submitted by the Louisiana Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP).

            (24) One optometrist from nominees submitted by the Optometry Association of Louisiana.

            (25) One member who shall be a representative of a burn center that is verified by the American Burn Association.

            C. Except as provided in Paragraphs (B)(15) and (16) of this Section, members shall be appointed by the governor from a list of qualified candidates nominated by the respective organizations. Each organization shall submit a list of at least four nominees to the governor.

            D. All members of the board shall serve terms of three years.

            E. The chairman shall be elected by the board for a term to be determined by the board and no member shall serve more than two consecutive terms as chairman.

            F. Each appointment by the governor shall be subject to Senate confirmation.

            G. Each board member shall serve without compensation. Legislators shall receive the same per diem and travel reimbursement for attending meetings of the board as is normally provided for members of the legislature. Nonlegislative board members may receive reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the guidelines of the entity they represent.

            H. The board shall adopt rules and regulations to provide for the governance of the board. Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to:

            (1) Procedures for the election of board officers, including terms of office and methods and grounds for removal.

            (2) Procedures and grounds for the removal of any board member. Grounds for removal shall include conviction of a felony or may include failure to meet board attendance rules as provided by rule.

            I. Procedures for filling a vacancy created by the removal, resignation, or death of any board member prior to the end of the board member's term shall follow those used for initial appointments.

            J. The number of board members necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business shall never be less than one third of the entire membership of the board. A majority vote of the board members constituting a quorum shall be necessary for any action taken by the board.

            Acts 2004, No. 248, §1, eff. June 15, 2004; Acts 2006, 1^st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §4, eff. March 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 442, §3, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 426, §1; Acts 2009, No. 384, §5, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 934, §1; Acts 2019, No. 434, §7, eff. June 30, 2019; Acts 2022, No. 123, §1.