Title 18. Disease Prevention — Subtitle 7. Center for the Study of the Health Effects of Fire

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Advisory Council” means the Advisory Council to the Center for the Study of the Health Effects of Fire.

“Center” means the Center for the Study of the Health Effects of Fire.

The Chief Medical Examiner is the Director of the Center.

The Chief Medical Examiner shall employ a staff for the Center in accordance with the State budget.

Study the long and short term health effects of exposure to fire;

Gather and analyze information concerning the morbidity and mortality of fire-related injury or death;

Establish and maintain a registry of individuals who suffer fire-related injury or death;

Establish a computerized data base concerning injuries and health effects of fire;

Be a common repository for information routinely collected concerning fires;

Communicate with national data bases of scientific literature in toxicology, chemistry, epidemiology, and other related scientific disciplines;

Establish and maintain communication and collaboration with existing agencies, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, involved in programs related to the health effects of fire;

Encourage and facilitate interest in fire-related issues at the educational institutions located in the State;

In accordance with the State budget, provide funding for pilot studies addressing issues or factors affecting injuries or health effects of fire;

Apply for federal or private research grants to investigate issues relating to the health effects of fire;

Solicit and follow the recommendations of the Advisory Council concerning future activities or projects of the Center; and

Provide staff support to the Advisory Council, as needed.

Confidential; and

Not discoverable or admissible in evidence in a civil or criminal action to determine:

Each member shall be an individual with demonstrated scientific and technical expertise in the field of toxicology, epidemiology, or occupational medicine.

The Secretary may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.

From among its members, the Advisory Council shall elect a chairperson.

The manner of election of the chairperson shall be as the Advisory Council determines.

The Advisory Council shall determine the times and places of its meetings.

A member of the Advisory Council:

Review the work of the Center;

Advise the Director of the Center concerning the scientific evaluation of the information collected by the Center; and

Assist the Center in setting priorities concerning issues to be researched.