The Florida Senate

413.605  Advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries.--

(1)  There is created within the department a 16-member advisory council on brain and spinal cord injuries. The council shall be composed of a minimum of four persons who have brain injuries or are family members of persons who have brain injuries, a minimum of four persons who have spinal cord injuries or are family members of persons who have spinal cord injuries, and a minimum of two persons who represent the special needs of children who have brain or spinal cord injuries. The balance of the council members shall be physicians, other allied health professionals, administrators of brain and spinal cord injury programs, and representatives from support groups that have expertise in areas related to the rehabilitation of persons who have brain or spinal cord injuries.

(2)  Members of the council shall be appointed to serve by the secretary. An individual may not serve more than two terms.

(a)  Eight members of the first appointed council shall serve an initial term of 2 years. This group shall include two persons who have brain injuries or are family members of persons who have brain injuries, two persons who have spinal cord injuries or are family members of persons who have spinal cord injuries, and four other persons from the previous council.

(b)  The remaining members of the first appointed council shall serve an initial term of 4 years. Thereafter all members' terms shall be for 4 years.

(c)  Any council member who is unwilling or unable to properly fulfill the duties of the office shall be succeeded by a person chosen by the secretary to serve out the unexpired balance of the replaced council member's term. If the unexpired balance of the replaced council member's term is less than 18 months, then, notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the succeeding council member may be reappointed by the secretary twice.

(3)  The council shall meet at least two times annually.

(4)  The council shall provide advice and expertise to the division in the preparation, implementation, and periodic review of the brain and spinal cord injury program as referenced in s. 413.49.

(5)  The membership of the council shall be appointed not later than August 1, 1994.

History.--s. 19, ch. 76-201; s. 9, ch. 87-320; s. 2, ch. 88-303; s. 5, ch. 91-429; s. 37, ch. 94-324.