There is created and established the Alabama Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission.

(a) The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) Two members shall be appointed by the Governor.

(2) One member shall be appointed by the University of South Alabama Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center.

(3) One member shall be appointed by the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

(4) One member shall be appointed by the Children's Hospital of Birmingham.

(5) Each of the seven chapters of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America-Alabama Chapter, Incorporated, shall appoint one member.

(b) Appointees to the commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate, and upon confirmation, serve for a term of four years. In the event of the death or resignation of any member of the commission, a successor shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and the successor appointed to the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The members shall elect from their membership a chair and a vice chair at an organizational meeting held no later than 30 days after appointments to the commission are confirmed.

(c) Members of the commission shall receive no salaries but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of their official duties pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 36. Expenses of the commission are to be paid from funds available to the commission.

The Alabama Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission shall be designated as the agency to insure the delivery of sickle cell services pursuant to Section 22-10B-5 to affected persons in all counties in Alabama and assist in establishing geographical service delivery boundaries. The commission shall promulgate guidelines for creating uniformity in the delivery of services and the management of statewide programs.

All persons, firms, corporations, unincorporated associations, state agencies, units of local government, or any public or private entity requesting public funding to provide quality sickle cell services shall receive approval biannually from the commission. The commission shall allocate the funds from any appropriation by the state for sickle cell treatment and education, and shall be responsible for submitting a consolidated budget and any other financial information required of state agencies, pursuant to the Budget Management Act.

The sickle cell services shall include all of the following:

(1) Public and professional health education which shall be provided by persons specially trained for the task.

(2) Screening of all newborns within a designated area for sickle cell disease by accurate laboratory techniques.

(3) Genetic counseling and decision-making counseling which shall be offered to all parents of infants who are affected with Sickle Cell Disease and to those parents and patients at risk of having other children affected with this disease.

(4) Medical referral and follow-up which shall consist of a prompt definitive diagnosis of patients found to have medically significant hemoglobin and the medical management of painful episodes, infections, and other complications which shall be provided by physicians and other medical professionals.

(5) Psychosocial support services which shall be provided to help patients affected with Sickle Cell Disease to live a happy and successful life.

This commission shall be an enumerated agency pursuant to Section 41-20-3(a)(6).

The Alabama Department of Public Health shall be exempt from any and all provisions of this chapter.