Sixteen representatives of the public must be appointed as follows: 8 members by the Governor, 4 members by the President of the Senate and 4 members by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council upon making their appointments. All appointments must be made within 30 days of the effective date of this Part. Within the following 30 days, the appointments must be reviewed and approved by a joint committee consisting of the members of the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over insurance and financial services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and must be confirmed by the Legislature.

The public members must represent statewide organizations from the following groups: consumers, uninsured persons, providers of maternal and child health services, Medicaid recipients, persons with disabilities, persons who are elderly, organized labor, allopathic and osteopathic physicians, nurses and allied health care professionals, organized delivery systems, hospitals, community health centers, the family planning system and the business community, including a representative of small business.

When appointment of all members of the committee is completed, the chair of the Legislative Council shall call the committee together for its first meeting. The first meeting must be held within 90 days of the effective date of this Part. The members of the committee shall elect a chair from among the members.

3. Responsibilities. The committee shall hold public hearings, solicit public comments and advise the Maine Health Care Council for the purposes of planning the transition to the Maine Health Care Plan and recommending legislative changes to accomplish the purposes of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 106.

4. Staffing and funding. The Maine Health Care Council shall provide staffing and funding for the committee.