(a) The Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium ("Consortium") is hereby established and shall coordinate efforts to prevent
infant mortality and improve the health of women of childbearing age and infants in the State.
(b) The Consortium's initial priorities and agenda shall be the recommendations contained in the report entitled "Reducing Infant
Mortality in Delaware — Recommendations of the Infant Mortality Task Force," released in May 2005, or its successor.
(c) The Consortium will:
(1) Provide advice and support to state agencies, hospitals and health-care practitioners regarding their roles in reducing infant
mortality and improving the health of women of childbearing age and infants.
(2) Facilitate collaborative partnerships among public health agencies, hospitals, health-care practitioners and all other interested
agencies and organizations to carry out recommended infant mortality improvement strategies.
(3) Recommend standards of care to ensure healthy women of childbearing age and infants.
(4) Coordinate efforts to address health disparities related to the health of women of childbearing age and infants.
(5) Oversee development and implementation of research activities to better understand causes of infant mortality.
(6) Coordinate efforts to prevent conditions and behaviors that lead to unhealthy women of childbearing age and infants.
(7) Meet semi-annually with the Secretary of Health and Social Services to review progress, priorities, and barriers related to the
Consortium's purpose.
(8) Recommend legislation and regulations that will enhance the health of women of childbearing age and infants.
(9) On an annual basis issue a report to the Governor on the status of the health of women of childbearing age and infants and progress
in implementing recommendations of the Infant Mortality Task Force.
(d) The Consortium's permanent membership shall be as follows:
(1) Two representatives of the Delaware House of Representatives and 2 representatives of the Delaware State Senate (1 selected
by each caucus);
(2) One representative of the Governor's office;
(3) The Secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, or the Secretary's designee;
(4) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services or the Secretary's designee;
(5) The Director of the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance or the Director's designee; and
(6) Fifteen additional members approved by the Governor who shall represent the medical, social service and professional
communities as well as the general public.
(e) The Consortium's permanent members may enact procedures to appoint additional persons to the Consortium. The Consortium,
by rule and regulation, shall establish categories of membership, specify voting rights for each category, designate the number needed
for a quorum to transact business, provide for election of officers, and adopt such procedures as are necessary to carry out the business
of the Consortium.
(f) Appointees to the Consortium shall serve at the pleasure of the individual or entity that appointed them.
(g) The Consortium shall have a chair and a vice chair, to be designated from among permanent members by the Governor and who
shall serve as president and vice-president at the pleasure of the Governor. Staff support for the Consortium shall be provided by the
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