Legislation Document

AMEND House Bill No. 425 by striking lines 8 through 69 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“(b) The Board shall consist of 9 11 members who possess the qualifications and are appointed as follows:

(1) The Governor shall appoint the following members :

a. Two members who are advocates for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease, such as a Lyme disease patient or patient advocate.

b. One member who is licensed physician, to practice medicine in Delaware who is a board-certified infectious disease specialist, in consultation with the Medical Society of Delaware .

c. One member who is licensed nurse, to practice nursing in Delaware who has experience in the treatment of patients with Lyme Disease .

d. One member who is a licensed health-care professional other than a physician or nurse. physicians or nurses.

e. One member individual who has knowledge and experience in the licensure and regulation education of health care. health care practitioners .

(2) The Pro Tempore of the Delaware State Senate shall appoint 1 member of the Lyme Disease Prevention Task Force established by Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 of the 147th General Assembly. Upon the resignation or replacement of that member, the Pro Tempore shall appoint a member to represent the public at large. 2 members as follows:

a. A member of the public at large.

b. One infectious disease epidemiologist.

(3) The Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives shall appoint 1 member of the Lyme Disease Prevention Task Force established by Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 of the 147th General Assembly. Upon the resignation or replacement of that member, the Speaker shall appoint a member to represent the public at large. 2 members as follows:

a. A member of the public at large.

b. One Delaware licensed veterinarian or entomology specialist.

(4) The Director of the Division of Public Health, or the Director’s designee.

(1) Determine the content of Lyme disease medical education materials, ensuring quality and balanced medical education by including the philosophies of the Centers For Disease Control, the guidelines established by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, as well as the latest scientific evidence and research.

(2) Educate health-care professionals in the State that Lyme disease can be diagnosed clinically based on history and physical examination, and serologic antibody testing can confirm, but is not required to make, a clinical diagnosis.

(3) Educate health-care professionals to develop a high level of awareness of Lyme disease.

(4) In conjunction with the Medical Society of Delaware and the Delaware Nurses Association, develop continuing medical education credits and nursing continuing education units on Lyme disease and encourage health-care professionals to take the continuing education courses as soon as reasonably practicable.

(5) Host continuing medical education and nursing continuing education trainings in all 3 counties and, if reasonably practicable, at hospitals to encourage the largest possible attendance by health-care professionals.

(6) Deliver education in a variety of methods, using professional associations, medical journals, radio, Internet, conferences, and linking medical training with a public awareness campaign.

(d) Appointment terms for the Board are as follows:

(1) The members appointed by the Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the member who is an advocate 2 advocates for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease are appointed for an initial term of 3 years.

(2) The member who is licensed to practice medicine and the member who is licensed to practice nursing are appointed for an initial term of 2 years.

(3) The member who is a health-care professional other than physician or nurse and the member who has knowledge and experience in the licensure and regulation of health care are appointed for an initial term of 1 year.

(4) After the initial terms, members are appointed or reappointed for terms of 3 years, but each appointing authority may appoint or reappoint members for a term of less than 3 years to ensure that no more than 3 members’ terms expire annually.

(e) The Board shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.

(f) A majority of members appointed to the Board shall constitute a quorum to conduct official business.

(g) If a vote by the Board results in a tie, the Board’s Chair may vote a second time to break the tie.

(h) Members of the Board shall serve without compensation, except that they shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incident to their duties as members of the Board excluding mileage. The Department shall pay such expenses.

(i) The Department shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual report that contains, at a minimum, all of the following information:

(1) The title, description, and schedule of continuing medical education and nursing continuing education courses related to Lyme disease education.

(2) Attendance of continuing medical education and nursing continuing education courses by the health-care professional population.

(3) Specific accounting of fees and costs. ”