(1) Health advisory committees may be established to represent counties, districts or regions; however, each county must have at least one (1) representative.
(2) Each health advisory committee established in accordance with § 68-2-601(e) shall function in an advisory capacity. The members of the health advisory committee shall consist of citizen and provider representatives who are residents of the county or district served by the health advisory committee. A citizen representative shall not, at the time of the citizen representative's election, previous to the citizen representative's election, nor during the term of the citizen representative's office, be a health provider or the spouse of a health provider. Citizen members represent major purchasers of health care, as well as social, economic, racial and geographic subpopulations. Provider members represent health professionals, health care institutions, health care insurers, health professional schools and allied health professionals. Members of the health advisory committee serve staggered terms.
(3) Where health advisory committees are established, their role is strictly advisory, and the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee retains enforcement authority.