Each Maternity Home shall have a board of directors which operates as the governing board of the agency. The governing board shall be organized so that legal responsibility and administrative authority shall be clearly defined. This applies only to Maternity Homes chartered for non-profit operation. In a privately owned home where maternity care is provided, the owner and/or operator is legally responsible for the establishment and enforcement of policies and the operation of the Home.
(a) Composition of Board. 1. The governing board shall be made up of men and women who are representative of the community served. Board members should be selected who have personal qualifications, interest, time and ability to provide leadership, to represent the agency, to interpret its program, and to participate fully and consistently in carrying out their responsibilities.2. The board shall be composed of not less than ten and not more than thirty-five members unless provided otherwise by local ordinance.3. Members shall not receive a salary for their services but may be reimbursed for expense incurred in connection with their office.4. A meeting of the governing body shall be held at least ten (10) times a year.5. Provisions should be made for systematic rotation of board members through a plan of overlapping terms of office. The number of consecutive terms for membership shall be limited.(b) Function and Responsibility of the Board. The governing board of a Maternity Home is responsible for establishing and maintaining its corporate entity. In carrying out this responsibility it is the duty of the Board to: 1. Appoint a well-qualified executive to whom responsibility for administration is delegated;2. Assume joint responsibility with the executive for the determination of the general plans and policies of the Agency;3. Insure adequate financing and budgeting for the Agency;4. Interpret the Agency's program to the community. An informed citizenry is necessary for community understanding of unmarried parents and their needs, for wider use of agency services, for appropriate referrals, and for adequate financing;5. Coordinate the work of the Agency with that of other agencies toward a broad community plan of service. The Maternity Home should be considered as only one resource in the service needed, and should be related to, and integrated with, all services in the community;6. Periodically review the Agency's program in order to determine whether its existing policies are meeting current needs.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 290-2-17-.03
Ga. L. 1963, pp. 81-121; Ga. L. 1972, pp. 1015, 1046, 1048.
Original Rule entitled "Governing Board" was filed on October 21, 1974; effective November 10, 1974.