(a) Creation.--There is hereby created within the department the Ben Franklin/IRC Partnership Advisory Board.

(b) Members.--The advisory board shall be composed of the following members:

(c) Chair.--The advisory board shall be chaired by two representatives, one of whom shall be selected by the chairs of the boards of the industrial resource centers and one of whom shall be selected by the chairs of the boards of the Ben Franklin technology centers. These cochairs shall attend and fully participate in the discussions held at all partnership board meetings, in order to convey to the partnership board the views of the advisory board.

(d) Votes.--For voting purposes, there shall exist 11 total votes. Four of the votes shall be equally divided among the industrial resource center chairs. Four of the votes shall be equally divided among the Ben Franklin technology center chairs. The three remaining votes shall be equally divided among the chair of the board of the Economic Planning and Development Commission, the State director of the small business development centers and the president of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association.

(e) Term.--All members of the advisory board shall serve for as long as they continue to hold the positions outlined above.

(f) Compensation.--The advisory board members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually incurred by them in the performance of their duties under this act.

(g) Purpose.--The advisory board shall facilitate discussion among the organizations represented to promote better coordination of services and opportunities.

(h) Staff support.--The staff to the partnership shall provide staff support to the advisory board.