Newborn Hearing Screening Committee

(1) There is established the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee. (2) The committee shall advise the department on: (a) the validity and cost of newborn infant hearing loss testing procedures; and (b) rules promulgated by the department to implement this Section 26B-4-319. (3) The committee shall be composed of at least 11 members appointed by the executive director, including: (a) one representative of the health insurance industry; (b) one pediatrician; (c) one family practitioner; (d) one ear, nose, and throat specialist nominated by the Utah Medical Association; (e) two audiologists nominated by the Utah Speech-Language Hearing Association; (f) one representative of hospital neonatal nurseries; (g) one representative of the Early Intervention Baby Watch Program administered by the department; (h) one public health nurse; (i) one consumer; and (j) the executive director or the executive director's designee. (4) (a) Of the initial members of the committee, the executive director shall appoint as nearly as possible half to two-year terms and half to four-year terms. (b) After the initial appointments described in Subsection (4)(a), appointments shall be for four-year terms except: (i) for those members who have been appointed to complete an unexpired term; and (ii) as necessary to ensure that as nearly as possible the terms of half the appointments expire every two years. (5) A majority of the members constitutes a quorum, and a vote of the majority of the members present constitutes an action of the committee. (6) The committee shall appoint a chair from the committee's membership. (7) The committee shall meet at least quarterly. (8) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with: (a) Section 63A-3-106; (b) Section 63A-3-107; and (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107. (9) The department shall provide staff for the committee.