Pennsylvania Statutes Title 43 P.S. Labor § 1465. Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

(a) Council.--The Advisory Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is created within the Department of Labor and Industry and shall consist of 17 members as follows: the Secretary of Public Welfare,  1 the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor and Industry, the Secretary of Aging, or their designees; the Governor, or his designee; one member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member of the Senate to be appointed by the President pro tempore; and nine members of the public to be appointed by the Governor.

(b) Members.--The nine appointed public members shall be individuals selected from schools, organizations and non-State agencies which render services to or represent persons who are hard of hearing. At least four of the public members shall be deaf or hard of hearing. Initially, the Governor shall designate two of the public members to serve one-year terms, two to serve two-year terms, two to serve three-years terms and two to serve four-year terms. Thereafter, all appointed members shall serve for four years. The council members from State offices shall serve during their tenure in office and shall remain on the council until such time as a replacement is named and qualified. The legislative members of the council shall serve two-year terms commencing with the first Tuesday in January of odd-numbered years and may be reappointed upon reelection to office.

(c) Vacancies.--Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of a term of office shall be filled by the appropriate appointing authority for the unexpired term of office.

(d) Compensation.--Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to receive necessary traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. The council shall meet at the call of the chairman but not less than four times a year.

(e) Election of officers.--The council shall biennially elect, from its own members, a chairman and such other officers it deems necessary. It shall make rules for its own government not inconsistent with those of the Department of Labor and Industry or other departments of the Commonwealth.