(a) There is established the Delaware Emergency Medical Services Oversight Council (DEMSOC). The Council shall consist of the following members:
(1) A representative of the Office of the Governor appointed by the Governor.
(2) The Secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
(3) The Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.
(4) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services.
(5) The Chair of the Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission.
(6) The President of the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association.
(7) The Chief of the New Castle County Emergency Medical Services.
(8) The Kent County Administrator.
(9) The Sussex County Administrator.
(10) The President of the Delaware Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
(11) The State EMS Medical Director.
(12) The Chair of the Trauma Systems Committee.
(13) A practicing paramedic, certified and employed in the State, appointed by the Governor.
(14) The Chair of the DVFA Ambulance Advisory Committee.
(15) Three at-large members, 1 from each county, appointed by the Governor.
(16) The President of the Delaware Healthcare Association.
(17) The Executive Director of the Medical Society of Delaware.
(18) The Chair of the Delaware Police Chiefs’ Council.
(19) The Paramedic Commander of the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit.
(20) The Chair of the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Advisory Committee.
(21) The Chair of the Stroke System Committee.
(b) Members serving by virtue of position may appoint designees to serve in their stead.
(c) The Council shall meet at a minimum of 1 time per year.
(d) An appointed member serves for a term of up to 3 years and is eligible for reappointment. The Governor shall appoint members for staggered terms so that no more than 3 members’ terms expire in any 1 calendar year.
(e) A majority of the membership of the Council shall constitute a quorum. A vacant position is not counted for quorum purposes.
(f) If an appointed member fails to attend 3 successive meetings of the Council without just cause, that member’s position may be deemed vacant and the Governor may appoint a replacement.
(g) The Chairperson of the Council shall be designated from among the members by the Governor and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Chairperson shall select a Vice Chairperson from the membership of the Council to serve in the Chairperson’s absence.
(h) The Council may adopt bylaws for adopting operating procedures including the election of officers, the conducting of meetings, and other matters to promote the efficient operation of the Council in this performance of its duties under this section.
(i) The Council shall monitor Delaware’s emergency medical services system to ensure that all elements of the system are functioning in a coordinated, effective, and efficient manner in order to reduce morbidity and mortality rates for the citizens of Delaware and to ensure quality of emergency care services.
(j) The Council shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) To examine policies and procedures and evaluate the effectiveness of the EMS system, specifically the respective roles, responsibilities, effectiveness and efficiency of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), the State Fire Prevention Commission, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the EMS provider agencies and the medical community;
(2) To study, research, plan, evaluate as well as offer guidance to, cooperate with and assist public agencies and private institutions and organizations on methods for the coordination and effective utilization of their emergency medical service programs;
(3) To formulate goals and recommendations, based on objective criteria and data, to be used in evaluating EMS provider agency performance;
(4) To review and make recommendations concerning quality improvement efforts pursuant to this chapter;
(5) To make recommendations to the Office of EMS, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the EMS provider agencies and the medical community for improving EMS in Delaware;
(6) To make legislative recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly;
(7) To provide an annual report on or before April 15 of each year to the Governor, General Assembly, interested parties and the public which will outline the performance of all EMS system agencies, comparing that performance to established goals and performance measures. The report shall also estimate the costs of Delaware’s EMS medical system. Automatic external defibrillator and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation program performance shall be included in this report. The first report will cover service provided in calendar year 2000 and will be delivered by April 15, 2001;
(8) To make recommendations concerning EMS to the State Fire Prevention Commission. The Commission will consider and act upon those recommendations; and
(9) To conduct a full review of EMS in the State at a minimum of every 5 years.
(k) The Council may request and shall receive from any department, division, commission or agency of the State such reasonable assistance and data as will enable it to properly carry out its functions hereunder.
(l) OEMS shall staff the Council.