§61-12A-1. Fatality and Mortality Review Team.

(a) The Fatality and Mortality Review Team is continued under the Department of Health. The Fatality and Mortality Review Team is a multidisciplinary team created to oversee and coordinate the examination, review, and assessment of

The deaths resulting from suspected domestic violence; and

The deaths of all infants and all women who die during pregnancy, at the time of birth, or within one year of the birth of a child, and the deaths of children under 18 years of age;

(b) The Fatality and Mortality Review Team shall consist of the following members:

(1) The state health officer, who is to serve as the chairperson and who is responsible for calling and coordinating at least quarterly, or more often, if needed, meetings of the Fatality and Mortality Review Team;

(2) The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health or his or her designee;

(3) The Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police or his or her designee;

(4) A prosecuting attorney, as appointed by the Prosecuting Attorneys Institute, who shall serve for a term of three years unless otherwise reappointed. A prosecuting attorney appointed to the team shall continue to serve until his or her term expires or until his or her successor has been appointed;

(5) A designee of the Chief Medical Examiner;

(6) A designee selected by the Chair of the Minority Health Institute at Marshall University that has an expertise in the causes of the disproportionate high mortality rates of minority births in West Virginia;

(7) A designee of the Perinatal Partnership;

(8) A licensed physician with training in obstetrics, appointed by the state health officer;

(9) A licensed physician with training in neonatology, appointed by the state health officer;

(10) A hospital-based nurse with experience in obstetrics, labor and delivery, post-partum, or maternity care, appointed by the state health officer;

(11) A licensed nurse or physician with training in domestic violence, appointed by the state health officer; and

(12) Any additional persons may be added on a case-by-case basis when expertise is needed, as determined by the chair. The designee may change based upon the circumstances of each particular case.

(c) Each member shall serve without additional compensation and may not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties under the provisions of this article.