Chapter 195-1 ADMINISTRATION
| (1) |
"Georgia Board for Physician Workforce"
means the organization and its office, formerly known as the Joint Board of
Family Practice, redesignated under Ga. Laws 1998, Act 785 (SB 533), and
governed by Title 49 Chapter 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated as
amended to address the physician workforce needs of Georgia communities through
the support and development of medical education programs and to administer
such grants and programs as may be funded from time to time by the Georgia
General Assembly relating to the education and training of
physicians. |
| (2) |
"Board" means the
members serving a term of office on the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce.
The Board shall be composed of 15 members, all of whom are residents of
Georgia.
| (a) |
Five members shall be primary
care physicians , at least three of whom shall be from rural areas, five
members shall be physicians who are not primary care physicians , at least
three of whom shall practice in rural areas, three members shall be
representatives of hospitals which are not teaching hospitals , with at least
two of those members being a representative of a rural, nonprofit hospital, one
member shall be a representative from the business community, and one member
shall have no connection with the practice of medicine or the provision of
health care. The physicians on the Board shall represent a diversity of medical
disciplines including, but not limited to, women's health, geriatrics and
children's health. The Board shall represent the gender, racial, and
geographical diversity of the state. |
| (b) |
All members shall be appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The terms of office of all the members of
the Joint Board of Family Practice shall expire on July 1, 1998, but only at
such time on or after that date when all 15 of the initial members of the
Georgia Board for Physician Workforce have been appointed and qualified. No
such initial member shall exercise any power until all 15 members have been
appointed and qualified. The initial members of the Board who are appointed
thereto shall take office for initial terms of office as follows :
| 1. |
Two primary care physicians, two
physicians who are not primary care physicians and one representative of a
hospital which is not a teaching hospital shall be appointed to two-year terms
of office; |
| 2. |
Two primary care
physicians, two physicians who are not primary care physicians and one
representative of a hospital which is not a teaching hospital shall be
appointed to four-year terms of office; and |
| 3. |
The remainder of the Board shall be
appointed to six-year terms of office. |
| 4. |
Thereafter, successors to such members
shall be appointed for terms of six years. The Governor shall designate the
term to which each initial member is appointed. All members shall serve until
their successors are appointed and qualified. Members appointed shall be
eligible to serve on the Board until confirmed by the Senate at the session of
the General Assembly next following their appointment. |
|
| (c) |
In the case of a vacancy on the Board by
reason of death or resignation of a member or for any other cause other than
the expiration of the member's term of office , the Board shall by secret
ballot elect a temporary successor. If the General Assembly is in session, the
temporary successor shall serve until the end of that session. If the General
Assembly is not in session, the temporary successor shall serve until the end
of the session next following the vacancy or until the expiration of the
vacated member's term of office, whichever occurs first. The Governor shall
appoint a permanent successor who shall be confirmed by the Senate. The
permanent successor shall take off ice on the first day after the General
Assembly adjourns and shall serve for the unexpired term and until his or her
successor is appointed and qualified. |
|
| (3) |
The "Executive Director" is the chief
administrative officer of the Board and directs the day-to- day operations of
its office. The Executive Director is charged to perform all the duties and
responsibilities de legated by the Board. |
| (4) |
"Standing Committee" means a committee
performing a continuous function which will remain in existence permanently or
for the life of the assembly that establishes it. |
| (5) |
"Special Committee" means a committee
organize d to carry out a specific task, which at the completion of said task,
shall no longer exist. |
| (6) |
"Annual
Meeting" means the first meeting of the Board after the beginning of the Fiscal
Year and at which a quorum is present. |
| (7) |
"Georgia Resident means to qualify as a
resident of the state of Georgia for the purpose of participation in the
Medical Student Capitation Program, or other Board program where appropriate,
an entering freshman student must show he/she has been a legal resident of
Georgia for a period of at least twelve months prior to certification of
residency. In the event a student is identified as a potential participant
after beginning a program of study, the student must demonstrate he/she was a
legal resident of Georgia for a period of one year prior to entering the
medical school. A Certification of Residency Form, as defined by the Georgia
Board for Physician Workforce, must be completed. This Form shall be notarized
and signed by a judge of the highest court of the county where a student
maintains his /her legal residence. Completion of this Form shall constitute
sufficient proof of Georgia residency status. |
| (1) |
Board. The
Board is responsible for conducting programs established pursuant to Ga. Law
1998, Act 785 (SB 533) , Title 49 Chapter 10 of the Official C ode of Georgia
Annotated, as amended, to address the health care workforce needs of Georgia
communities through the support and development of medical education programs,
to increase the number of physicians and health care practitioners practicing
in underserved rural areas and administering other programs as may be assigned
from time to time by Georgia's General Assembly. |
| (2) |
Officers. The officers of the Board are
the Chairman, V ice -Chairman, and Secretary- Treasurer. They are elected, by
ballot, for a one-year term at the annual meeting of the Board. Each officer
shall serve until his/her successor is elected. Each officer may succeed
him/herself for one term. No one person may hold more than one office. The
Chairman, upon completion of his/her term, shall serve as an ex-officio member
of the Executive Committee. The responsibilities of the officers include the
following:
| (a) |
In addition to directing the
day-to- day operations of the Board through the Executive Director, the
Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Chairman also shall
appoint all Board committees with the exception of the Nominating Committee,
shall submit an Annual Report to the Governor on behalf of the Board, and shall
execute contracts and other documents on behalf of the Board. |
| (b) |
The Vice-Chairman shall exercise the
functions of the Chairman in the absence of the Chairman. The V ice-Chairman
may have such other duties as set by the Board from time to time. |
| (c) |
The Secretary-Treasurer is responsible
for keeping accurate minutes of Board meetings and actions and shall submit
official minutes of all Boar d meetings to the Governor and shall present
periodic reports to the Board on its budget. |
| (d) |
The election of the Board's officers
shall occur at the Annual Meeting. At the Board meeting prior to the Annual
one, the Board shall elect a Nominating Committee composed of three Board
members which shall present its report at the Annual Meeting; additional
nominations may be made from the floor. The election of the officers shall be
upon a majority vote of the members voting. The officers shall be installed at
the next regular meeting of the Board. |
|
| (3) |
Meetings. The Board shall meet at least
four times at regular intervals during the year. Meetings shall be conducted
under the Roberts Rule of Order. Additional meetings may be called by the
Chairman or upon written request of a majority of members of the Board. The
Annual Meeting of the Board is its first meeting of the fiscal year. The
meetings of the Board may be held in any place set forth in the notice so long
as within the state of Georgia. Not less than seven days notice is required for
a meeting except for those called for a special purpose. A majority of members
then in office shall constitute a quorum. |
| (4) |
Attendance. It shall be the duty of
members of the Board to attend the meetings of the Board. If any member fails
to attend more than three consecutive regular meetings of the Board, without
excuse approved by resolution of the Board, that member's off ice shall be
declared vacant, and the Chairman of the Board shall notify the Governor of a
vacancy on the Board, and the Governor shall f ill the same. |
| (5) |
Standing Committees. Standing Committees
of the Board will be the Executive Committee, Budget and Contracts Committee,
and Physician Workforce Committee. |
| (6) |
Consultation. The Board, as it deems
appropriate, shall have the authority to appoint advisory committees to advise
it on the fulfillment of its duties. The members of the advisory committee
shall not receive any per die m or reimbursement. However, such members shall
receive the mileage allowance provided for in Code Section
50-19-7 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated for the use of a personal car in connection with attendance
at meetings called by the Board if funds are appropriated and
available. |
| (7) |
Administrative
Attachment. Effective July 1, 1999, the Board shall be attached to the
Department of Community Health for administrative purposes only as defined by
Code Section
50-4-3 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated. |
| (8) |
Compensation
and allowances. Each member of the Board shall receive the same expense
allowance as that received by a member of the General Assembly as provide d by
Code Section
45-7-21 for each day or
substantial portion thereof that such member is engaged in the work of the
Board or for travel as a member of a committee of the Board, which travel has
been authorized by the chairman or by action of the Board and shall receive
reimbursement for state use mileage as is normally allowed to state employees.
No member shall receive the above per diem for more than thirty (30) days in
any one calendar year. |
| (9) |
Administrative Staff. The Department of Community Health, with the concurrence
of the Board shall have the authority to employ such administrative staff as
necessary to carry out the functions of the Board. Such staff members will be
employed within the limits of the appropriations made to the Board. |
The Board shall adopt from time to time such Rules as it deems
necessary for the operation of the Board and its activities. Any Rules
promulgated by the Board shall be adopted in compliance with the Georgia
Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13-4).
The Board shall conduct all hearings in accordance with the
Georgia Administrative Procedure Act (O.C.G.A. 50-13-13).
