The Network shall exercise its powers through a Board of Directors, which shall draft the administrative and operational policy of the Network. Board members must be residing and domiciled in Puerto Rico and have an upstanding reputation. The Board of Directors, as a governing body, shall have the authority to exercise all the powers of the Network and adopt such norms, rules, regulations, and procedures as necessary to exercise the powers and meet the purposes of the Network.
The Board of Directors shall be composed of seven (7) members.
(a) The Board shall be constituted by three ex officio voting members, and four voting members who shall be initially and randomly designated as follows: two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, and two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years each. The subsequent appointment of members other than ex officio members shall be made for a term of three (3) years each.
(b) Board members other than ex officio members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Governor may remove or request the resignation of any Board member for just cause.
(c) Board members shall hold office until their successor is appointed and takes office. Should any vacancy arise, a substitute shall be appointed, who shall discharge his/her functions for the remainder of the term of his/her predecessor.
(d) Board members shall not receive any financial compensation whatsoever for discharging their functions. Any Board members who are not public officials shall be entitled to a per diem to be determined by the Board of Directors for each day they attend Board meetings.
(e) Four (4) Board members shall constitute a quorum. However, a quorum shall require the attendance of at least one (1) ex officio member.
(f) The Board shall convene at least three (3) times a year in regular meetings. The Board may convene in special meetings as many times as it may deem necessary or convenient, after the Chair of the Board of Directors has called such meeting.
(g) The Board members shall be:
(1) The Secretary of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico, or in his/her stead, the State Health Information Technology Coordinator.
(2) The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration, or at any time he/she is unable to attend, the person designated by him/her, provided that such designation shall fall on one single person for the duration of his/her tenure.
(3) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or at any time he/she is unable to attend, the person designated by him/her, provided that such designation shall fall on one single person for the duration of his/her tenure.
(4) One (1) representative of the clinical laboratory sector who holds a license in effect and is an active practitioner.
(5) One (1) representative of the pharmacy sector who is a pharmacist and holds a license in effect.
(6) One (1) representative of the physicians sector in Puerto Rico who holds a license in effect as is an active practitioner.
(7) One (1) representative of the healthcare facility sector who is a health facility administration professional, holds a license in effect, and is an active practitioner.
The Chair, the Vice Chair, and the Secretary of the Board shall be selected by the vote of the Board members and their tenure shall never exceed two (2) years. The Chair shall represent the Network in any acts, discharge such duties, and have such responsibilities, powers, and authorities as delegated onto him/her by the Board of Directors of the Network.
The Board shall be empowered and authorized to make and enforce decisions and to exercise the rights and powers described in § 3743 of this title.
As a governing body, the Board of Directors shall have the power and the duty to:
(i) Appear in representation of the interests of the Network before any forum, as necessary.
(ii) Promulgate regulations and a code of ethics.
(iii) Meet the goals of the HIE Strategic and Operational Plan for Puerto Rico.
History —Feb. 2, 2012, No. 40, § 6.