Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 31 of Title 23.1 an article numbered 10, consisting of sections numbered 23.1-3139 through 23.1-3144, as follows:

§23.1-3139. Consortium Comprehensive Cancer Center Advisory Board established; purpose.

The Consortium Comprehensive Cancer Center Advisory Board (the Advisory Board) is established as an independent advisory board in state government for the purpose of advising Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia on the process of establishing a consortium Comprehensive Cancer Center to coordinate the cancer research efforts of each institution.

§23.1-3140. Membership; terms; quorum; meetings.

The Advisory Board shall have a total membership of 13 members that shall consist of seven nonlegislative citizen members and six ex officio members. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed as follows: three nonlegislative citizen members, including one representative of Eastern Virginia Medical School, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; two nonlegislative citizen members, including one representative of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and two nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor, including one representative of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The President of Virginia Commonwealth University or his designee, one member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, the Vice President for Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University or his designee, the President of the University of Virginia or his designee, one member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, and the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Virginia or his designee shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Advisory Board shall be citizens of the Commonwealth and shall have experience in health care or cancer research.

Ex officio members of the Advisory Board shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All members may be reappointed.

No nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.

The Advisory Board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The Advisory Board shall meet no more than four times each year. The meetings of the Advisory Board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.

§23.1-3141. Compensation; expenses.

Members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in §2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided jointly by each educational institution for which the Advisory Board provided advice pursuant to this article.

§23.1-3142. Duties of the Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board shall:

1. Study the requirements for designation as a consortium Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

2. Make recommendations to the Boards of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia relating to the process for establishing a joint National Cancer Institute-designated consortium Comprehensive Cancer Center, including recommendations relating to a joint leadership structure, research integration, and programmatic integration.

3. Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairman shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Advisory Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.

§23.1-3143. Staffing.

A. The House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Finance, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute shall provide staff support to the Advisory Board. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Advisory Board, upon request.

B. The Advisory Board may use a portion of the funds appropriated to it to retain a consultant with the requisite qualifications and expertise to assist the Advisory Board in carrying out its duties pursuant to § 23.1-3142.

§23.1-3144. Sunset.

This article shall expire on July 1, 2021.