nhsc advisory council

National Health Service Corps Advisory Council

Charter

Charter Amendment

National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps

Purpose

The Secretary and by delegation the Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, are authorized under sections 332 and 333, of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, 42 USC 254e and 254f, the responsibility for designating areas of the United States with critical health professional shortages and assigning Commissioned Officers and other personnel of the Public Health Service to improve the delivery of health services in health professional shortage areas. 

Authority

42 USC 254j; section 337 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.  The Council is governed by the provisions of Public Law 92-463, (5 USC App. 2) which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Function

The National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps shall consult with, advise and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, with respect to their responsibilities under Subpart II, Part D of Title III of the Public Health Service Act, as amended (National Health Service Corps, National Health Service Corps Scholarships, Indian Health Service Scholarships, and Health Professional Shortage Area Designations), and shall review and comment upon regulations promulgated by the Secretary under Subpart II. 

Structure

The Council shall consist of 15 members including the Chair.  Members shall be selected by the Secretary and the Chair shall also be designated by the Secretary.  Members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term.  No member shall be removed, except for cause.  Members may not be reappointed to the Council. 

Subcommittees will be established from time to time.  Upon establishment of each of the subcommittees, the Department Committee Management Officer will be notified and will be provided information on the subcommittee’s name, membership, function and estimated frequency of meetings. 

Management and support services shall be provided by the National Health Service Corps, Health Resources and Services Administration. 

Meetings

Meetings shall be held when necessary at the call of the Chair, with the advance approval of a Government official, who shall also approve the agenda.  A Government official shall be present at all meetings.  

Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary; notice of all meetings shall be given to the public. 

Meetings shall be conducted, and records of proceeding kept, as required by applicable laws and departmental regulations.

Compensation

Members of the Council (other than members who are officers or employees of the United States), while attending meetings or conferences thereof or otherwise serving on the business of the Council, shall be entitled to receive for each day (including travel time) in which they are so serving, compensation at a rate of $250; and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, all members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem, in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. 

Annual Cost Estimate

Estimated annual cost for operating the Council, including compensation and travel expenses for members by excluding staff support, is $134, 692.  Estimate of annual man-years of staff support is 1.1 at an estimated annual cost of $82.999. 

Reports

In the event that a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, 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. 

Duration

The National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps is exempt from section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as stated in section 337(c) of P.L. 94-484.  The charter will be in effect until amended or section 337 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, 42 USC 254j, is repealed by law.

Approved:

10/28/96
J. Henry Montes, M.P.H.
Associate Administrator for Policy Coordination

Legislation

§ 254j. National Advisory Council on National Health Service Corps

(a) Establishment; appointment of members

There is established a council to be known as the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Council"). The Council shall be composed of not more than 15 members appointed by the Secretary. The Council shall consult with, advise, and make recommendations to, the Secretary with respect to his responsibilities in carrying out this subpart (other than section 254r of this title), and shall review and comment upon regulations promulgated by the Secretary under this subpart.

(b) Term of members; compensation; expenses

(1) Members of the Council shall be appointed for a term of three years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. No member shall be removed, except for cause. Members may not be reappointed to the Council.

(2) Members of the Council (other than members who are officers or employees of the United States), while attending meetings or conferences thereof or otherwise serving on the business of the Council, shall be entitled to receive for each day (including travel time) in which they are so serving compensation at a rate fixed by the Secretary (but not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS_18 of the General Schedule); and while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business all members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of Title 5 for persons in the Government Service employed intermittently.

(c) Termination

Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply with respect to the Council.