(a) The Board shall appoint an advisory committee consisting of at least 17 members.

(b) Of the 17 committee members:

(1) Six shall be nursing assistants:

(i) One shall be an acute care nursing assistant;

(ii) One shall be a home care nursing assistant;

(iii) One shall be a long-term care nursing assistant;

(iv) One shall be an adult medical day care nursing assistant;

(v) At least one of the nursing assistant members shall be a member of a union; and

(vi) One shall be an independent contractor;

(2) Three shall be registered nurses:

(i) One shall be an acute care registered nurse;

(ii) One shall be a home care registered nurse; and

(iii) One shall be a long-term care registered nurse;

(3) Two shall be administrators from licensed health care facilities;

(4) One shall be a licensed practical nurse;

(5) One shall be an individual who teaches a nursing assistant course;

(6) One shall be a consumer member who has received care, or has a family member who has received care from a nursing assistant;

(7) One shall be a representative of the Department;

(8) One shall be a certified medication technician; and

(9) One shall be a certified dialysis technician.

(c) The Board shall appoint an alternate for each of the six nursing assistant members in the event that the nursing assistant member is unable to discharge the duties of the committee.

(d) Each member of the advisory committee must:

(1) Be a citizen of the United States;

(2) Be a resident of the State; and

(3) Have practiced in the member’s health occupation for at least 5 years immediately preceding the member’s appointment.

(e) (1) The term of an advisory committee member is 4 years.

(2) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(3) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(4) A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms.

(5) To the extent practicable, the Board shall fill any vacancy on the advisory committee within 60 days after the date of the vacancy.

(f) (1) In addition to any other meeting requirements under this title, the advisory committee shall meet:

(i) At least once a month; and

(ii) At the request of the Executive Director of the Board.

(2) A majority of the full membership of the advisory committee is a quorum.

(g) The advisory committee shall:

(1) Evaluate training programs and make recommendations for approval by the Board;

(2) Develop and recommend regulations to enforce the provisions of this subtitle;

(3) Evaluate candidates as required and recommend action to the Board;

(4) Review investigations of complaints against nursing assistants or medication technicians and make recommendations to the Board for disciplinary action;

(5) Keep a record of its proceedings; and

(6) Submit an annual report to the Board.

(h) A member of the advisory committee is entitled to receive:

(1) Compensation, as determined by the Board; and

(2) Reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

(i) The Board may remove a member:

(1) For incompetence or misconduct; or

(2) Who is absent from two successive committee meetings without adequate reason.