(a) There is created the Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Committee. The Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Department regarding all disciplinary matters relating to credentialing of emergency medical services personnel. At the request of the Department, the Committee shall review criminal background information and make a recommendation regarding the eligibility of an individual to obtain initial EMS credentials, renew EMS credentials, or maintain EMS credentials.
(b) The Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to serve four-year terms. Two of the members shall be currently practicing local EMS physician medical directors. One member each shall be a current or former physician member of the North Carolina Medical Board, a current EMS administrator, a current EMS educator, and two currently practicing and credentialed EMS personnel, one of whom shall be an emergency medical technician-paramedic.
(c) In order to stagger the terms of the membership of the Committee, the initial appointment for one of the local EMS physician medical directors and the currently practicing and credentialed emergency medical technician-paramedic shall be for a three-year term. The other three initial appointments and all future appointments shall be for four-year terms.
(d) Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Committee created by a resignation, dismissal, death, or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term.
(e) A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation, Office of Emergency Medical Services, shall supply all clerical and other services required by the Committee.
(f) The Committee shall elect annually from its membership a chairperson and vice-chairperson upon a majority vote of the quorum present.