(a) In this section, “advisory council” means the Perinatal Advisory Council established under this section.
(b) The advisory council consists of 19 members appointed by the executive commissioner as follows:
(1) four physicians licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, specializing in neonatology:
(A) at least two of whom practice in a Level III or IV neonatal intensive care unit; and
(B) at least one of whom practices in a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital located in a rural area;
(2) one physician licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, specializing in general pediatrics;
(3) two physicians licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, specializing in obstetrics-gynecology;
(4) two physicians licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, specializing in maternal fetal medicine;
(5) two physicians licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, specializing in family practice who provide obstetrical care in a rural community, at least one of whom must provide such care at a hospital that has 50 or fewer patient beds and that is:
(A) located in a county with a population of 60,000 or less; or
(B) designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a critical access hospital, rural referral center, or sole community hospital;
(6) one registered nurse licensed under Subtitle E, Title 3, Occupations Code, with expertise in maternal health care delivery;
(7) one registered nurse licensed under Subtitle E, Title 3, Occupations Code, with expertise in perinatal health care delivery;
(8) one representative from a children’s hospital;
(9) one representative from a hospital with a Level II neonatal intensive care unit;
(10) two representatives from a rural hospital, at least one of whom must be an administrative representative from a hospital that has 50 or fewer patient beds and that is:
(A) located in a county with a population of 60,000 or less; or
(B) designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a critical access hospital, rural referral center, or sole community hospital;
(11) one representative from a general hospital; and
(12) one ex officio representative from the office of the medical director of the Health and Human Services Commission.

(c) To the extent possible, the executive commissioner shall appoint members to the advisory council who previously served on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Council established under Chapter 818 (H.B. 2636), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011.
(d) Members of the advisory council described by Subsections (b)(1)-(11) serve staggered three-year terms, with the terms of six of those members expiring September 1 of each year. A member may be reappointed to the advisory council.
(e) A member of the advisory council serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses related to the performance of advisory council duties.
(f) The department, with recommendations from the advisory council, shall develop a process for the designation and updates of levels of neonatal and maternal care at hospitals in accordance with this subchapter.
(g) The advisory council shall:
(1) develop and recommend criteria for designating levels of neonatal and maternal care, respectively, including specifying the minimum requirements to qualify for each level designation;
(2) develop and recommend a process for the assignment of levels of care to a hospital for neonatal and maternal care, respectively;
(3) make recommendations for the division of the state into neonatal and maternal care regions;
(4) examine utilization trends relating to neonatal and maternal care; and
(5) make recommendations related to improving neonatal and maternal outcomes.
(h) In developing the criteria for the levels of neonatal and maternal care, the advisory council shall consider:
(1) any recommendations or publications of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, including “Guidelines for Perinatal Care”;
(2) any guidelines developed by the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine;
(3) the geographic and varied needs of citizens of this state; and
(4) the patient safety practices adopted under § 241.1837.
(i) In developing the criteria for designating levels one through three of neonatal and maternal care, the advisory council may not consider the number of patients treated at a hospital.
(j) The advisory council shall submit a report detailing the advisory council’s determinations and recommendations to the department and the executive commissioner not later than September 1, 2016.
(k) The advisory council shall continue to update its recommendations based on any relevant scientific or medical developments.