(a) Appointment.--The secretary shall appoint a Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee. The committee shall consist of at least 23 members, 19 of whom shall represent local government, environmental, health, engineering, business, academic and public interest groups and four members of the General Assembly, two from the Senate, one member from the majority party and one member from the minority party, or their designees, who shall be appointed by the President pro tempore, and two from the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party, or their designees, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The secretary shall designate a representative of the department who shall be a nonvoting member of the committee. Representatives of the host municipality and host county shall also be appointed as additional voting members of the committee. No member of the committee shall be employed by or hold a financial interest in the operator company or any of its subsidiaries or parent companies, and no more than three of the members of the committee shall be employed by or hold a financial interest in a company which serves as a subcontractor to the operator company or in any entity that utilizes the regional facility for disposal of its low-level radioactive wastes.

(b) Review of draft regulations, advice, etc.--The committee shall have an opportunity to review draft regulations under this act and advise the department prior to proposal. The committee shall have an opportunity to review and comment on operator selection, including the proposed standards developed by the department for the qualifications and compliance history of the operator. The committee may also advise the department regarding policies and issues related to the implementation of this act as may be submitted by the department to the committee for review.

(c) Chairman.--The committee shall elect a member to serve as chairman.

(d) Policies and procedures.--The committee shall establish policies and procedures for the conduct of business which shall include a policy regarding potential conflicts of interest of members.

(e) Meetings.--Meetings shall be held at least annually. After a site is designated, at least one meeting shall be held in the host municipality each year.

(f) Expenses and support services.--Members shall serve without salary or compensation except for reimbursement by the department for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in connection with their duties as approved by the secretary. The department shall also provide necessary administrative support services, budget and staff to the committee for the carrying out of its responsibilities under this section.

(g) Termination.--The Low-Level Waste Advisory Committee shall cease to exist when the department's responsibility for the regulation of low-level radioactive waste is terminated.