1.    The advisory council, in consultation with the school of medicine and health sciences and the other agencies, associations, and institutions represented on the advisory council, shall study and make recommendations regarding the strategic plan, programs, and facilities of the school of medicine and health sciences in support of its purpose as defined in section 15-52-01.

2.    Biennially, the advisory council shall submit a report, together with its recommendations, to the agencies, associations, and institutions represented on the advisory council, to the university of North Dakota, and to the legislative council.

3.     a.    The report must describe the advisory council’s recommendations regarding the strategic plan, programs, and facilities of the school of medicine and health sciences as developed under subsection 1. The recommendations for implementing strategies through the school of medicine and health sciences or other agencies and institutions must:

(1) Address the health care needs of the people of the state; (2) Provide information regarding the state’s health care workforce needs; and

(3) Provide information that specifies the contributions that the university of North Dakota school of medicine and health sciences and the residency training programs in the state are making to meet the health care provider workforce needs of the state. Such information must include data regarding: (a)    The effectiveness of activities conducted throughout the state relating to the recruitment and progression of students into medical school and into the health care provider workforce; (b)    Class characteristics of the medical school matriculants, specifically to include a description of their geographic background; (c)    Residency choices of medical school graduates; (d)    Practice location choices of graduates of North Dakota residencies; and (e)    Any other relevant information that the university of North Dakota school of medicine and health sciences advisory council determines to be important and useful in assessing the degree of success of the university of North Dakota school of medicine and health sciences in meeting the health care workforce needs of the state as specified in section 15-52-01.

b.    The recommendations required under subdivision a may address: (1) Medical education and training; (2) The recruitment and retention of physicians and other health care professionals; (3) Factors influencing the practice environment for physicians and other health care professionals; (4) Access to health care; (5) Patient safety; (6) The quality of health care and the efficiency of its delivery; and

(7) Financial challenges in the delivery of health care.

4.    The council may consult with any individual or entity in performing its duties under this section.