Certain counties; health services advisory boards

§ 357. Certain counties; health services advisory boards. 1. In a county wherein the legislative body constitutes the board of health of such county under and pursuant to the provisions of section three hundred fifty-six of this title, the county shall provide for the appointment by the board of health of a health services advisory board consisting of nine members. One member shall be a physician licensed to practice in the state of New York and one member shall be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant licensed to practice in the state of New York. The remaining members of the board shall be known as public members and shall be selected on the basis of their interest and knowledge regarding the health needs, resources and facilities of the community.

2. The health services advisory board shall advise the county health director with respect to the discharge of his powers, responsibilities and duties.

3. A person may hold other public office or employment while serving as a member of a health services advisory board.

4. The members of a health services advisory board shall have fixed terms of four years except that three of the initial appointments shall be for two years and three shall be for three years. A term shall be deemed to run from the first day of the year in which the appointment is made. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms in the same manner as original appointments. No person may serve as a member for more than two terms consecutively.

5. Board members shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

6. Two or more such counties may agree to form a conjoined health services advisory board. Each county shall be entitled to appoint members in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one or may appoint such proportion of the total membership so computed as is mutually agreed upon by the participating counties.

7. Board members shall be residents of the county or a resident of a contiguous county who has a background in a health-related field and performs other substantial work within the county associated with their health-related background.