(1) The board of directors of the plan shall consist of not less than five or more than nine persons serving terms as established in the plan of operation. The department shall approve and appoint to the board persons recommended by the member HMOs or shall approve and appoint other persons with experience in health insurance as determined by the Chief Financial Officer. These appointments are deemed to be within the scope of the exemption provided in s. 112.313(7)(b). Each member shall serve for a 4-year term and may be reappointed, except that terms may be staggered as defined in the plan of operation. Vacancies on the board shall be filled for the remaining period of the term in the same manner as initial appointments. In determining voting rights, each HMO is entitled to vote on the basis of cumulative weighted voting based on the net written premium for non-Medicare and non-Medicaid policies. (2) In appointing members to the board, the department shall consider, among other things, whether all member HMOs are fairly represented.
(3) Members of the board may be reimbursed from the assets of the plan for expenses incurred by them as members of the board of directors, but members of the board shall not otherwise be compensated by the plan for their services.
(4) The board of directors shall elect one of its members as chair.
(5) The board may contract with an administrator to carry out the provisions of this part; however, this shall not relieve the board of its duties and obligations under this part.
(6) The board shall collect assessments from all HMOs as set forth in this part.
(7) Subject to the approval of the department, the board shall designate one representative to serve as a member of the board of directors of the Florida Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association pursuant to s. 631.716(1). The representative, or his or her alternate, has the right to be present during all meetings of the association board of directors and shall have full voting rights. (8) The Chief Financial Officer may remove a board member from office for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or neglect of duty. Any vacancy so created shall be filled as provided in subsection (1).
(9) Board members are subject to the code of ethics under part III of chapter 112, including, but not limited to, the code of ethics and public disclosure and reporting of financial interests, pursuant to s. 112.3145. For purposes of applying part III of chapter 112 to activities of members of the board of directors, those persons are considered public officers and the plan is considered their agency. Notwithstanding s. 112.3143(2), a board member may not vote on any measure that he or she knows would inure to his or her special private gain or loss; that he or she knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of any principal by which he or she is retained, other than an agency as defined in s. 112.312; or that he or she knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of a relative or business associate of the public officer. Before the vote is taken, such member shall publicly state to the board the nature of his or her interest in the matter from which he or she is abstaining from voting and, within 15 days after the vote occurs, disclose the nature of his or her interest as a public record in a memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate the memorandum in the minutes. (10) Notwithstanding s. 112.3148, s. 112.3149, or any other law, a board member may not knowingly accept, directly or indirectly, any gift or expenditure from a person or entity, or an employee or representative of such person or entity, which has a contractual relationship with the plan or which is under consideration for a contract. (11) A board member who fails to comply with subsection (9) or subsection (10) is subject to the penalties provided under ss. 112.317 and 112.3173. 