AN ACT establishing the advisory council on rare diseases within the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 1B of Chapter 130A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:
"Part 5. Advisory Council on Rare Diseases.
"§ 130A‑33.52.  Advisory Council on Rare Diseases; membership; terms; compensation; meetings; quorum.
(a)	There is established the Advisory Council on Rare Diseases within the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to advise the Governor, the Secretary, and the General Assembly on research, diagnosis, treatment, and education relating to rare diseases. For purposes of this Part, "rare disease" has the same meaning as provided in 21 U.S.C. § 360bb.
(b)	Advisory Council Membership. –
(1)	Upon the recommendation of the Dean of the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Secretary shall appoint members to the advisory council as follows:
a.	A physician licensed and practicing in this State with experience researching, diagnosing, or treating rare diseases.
b.	A medical researcher with experience conducting research concerning rare diseases.
c.	A registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse licensed and practicing in the State with experience treating rare diseases.
d.	One rare diseases survivor.
e.	One member who represents a rare diseases foundation.
f.	One representative from each academic research institution in this State that receives any grant funding for rare diseases research.
(2)	The chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services, or the chairs' designees, shall serve on the advisory council. A member of the advisory council who is designated by the chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services may be a member of the General Assembly.
(3)	The Secretary, or the Secretary's designee, shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the advisory council.
(c)	Members appointed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall serve for a term of three years, and no member shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
(d)	Members of the advisory council shall receive per diem and necessary travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138‑5 or G.S. 138‑6 or travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 120‑3.1, as applicable.
(e)	All administrative support and other services required by the advisory council shall be provided by the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
(f)	Upon the recommendation of the Dean of the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Secretary shall select the chair of the advisory council from among the members of the council.
(g)	The chair shall convene the first meeting of the advisory council no later than October 1, 2015. A majority of the council members shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of a quorum shall be required for any official action of the advisory council. Following the first meeting, the advisory council shall meet upon the call of the chair or upon the request of a majority of council members.
"§ 130A‑33.53.  Advisory Council on Rare Diseases; powers and duties; reports.
The advisory council shall have the following powers and duties:
(1)	Advise on coordinating statewide efforts for the study of the incidence of rare diseases within the State and the status of the rare disease community.
(2)	Report to the Secretary, the Governor, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on behalf of the General Assembly not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, on the activities of the advisory council and its findings and recommendations regarding rare disease research and care in North Carolina, including any recommendations for statutory changes and amendments to the structure, organization, and powers or duties of the advisory council."
SECTION 2.  All appointments to the Advisory Council on Rare Diseases, established by Section 1 of this act, shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective August 1, 2015.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 29th day of July, 2015.

	s/	 Philip E. Berger
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	s/	 Paul Stam
	 Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved 3:30 p.m. this 5th day of August, 2015