(a) There is hereby created an advisory council, to be known as the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Advisory Council. The council shall be comprised of eight members, with four members being employe representatives and four members being employer representatives. The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry shall be an ex officio member. The members of such council shall be appointed as follows: one employe representative and one employer representative by the President pro tempore of the Senate, one employe representative and one employer representative by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one employe representative and one employer representative by the Minority Leader of the Senate and one employe representative and one employer representative by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. The members of the council shall select one of their number to be chairman.

(c) The members of the advisory council, once appointed, shall serve a term of two years and until their successors have been appointed. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties. The secretary shall provide facilities and clerical and professional support as needed by the council in the performance of its duties. The compensation of such staff and the amounts allowed them and to members of the council for traveling and other council expenses shall be deemed part of the expenses incurred in connection with the administration of this act.