1. Provide guidance to the State Department of Health Services (DHS), Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) in the development of training, educational and research programs regarding SIDS;
2. Provide ongoing guidance to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the need for SIDS programs for specific targeted groups of persons; and
3. Convene a statewide conference annually, in conjunction with DHS or a person with whom DHS contracts, to provide SIDS education. The purpose of the conference is to examine the progress in discovering the cause of SIDS, explore the progress of newly established programs and services related to SIDS, identify future needs for legislation and program development regarding SIDS, and make recommendations of the needs of programs regarding SIDS.

1. Agenda items will be presented by staff, or invited experts and discussed as a group.
2. Following discussion of each agenda item, the Council will consider resolutions containing recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature and /or MCAH staff.
3. At the close of each meeting, the Council will recommend topics for future agenda items, and confirm the date and time of the next meeting.
4. A quorum is defined as a minimum of two-thirds of the members being present at a Council meeting.
5. Minutes of Council meetings recorded and approved by a vote of the Council members constitute the complete record of Council discussions and recommendations.

1. Council meetings with on-site attendance will be convened once a year in conjunction with the annual SIDS conference. Additional on-site meetings, in Sacramento, will be scheduled at the discretion of MCAH.
2. Teleconferences will be scheduled periodically.

There will be three categories of Council participants:

1. Members - Section 123725 of the Health and Safety Code provides that the Advisory Council shall consist of nine members who shall be chosen by the DHS Director in consultation with regional SIDS Parent Advisory Councils. Council Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary and travel expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of the Advisory Council. Members may vote.
2. Liaisons - Representatives from non-MCAH government offices and or programs invited to provide technical expertise as needed on specific items of consideration for the Council. Liaisons may not vote.
3. Attendees - Interested public, staff from MCAH and MCAH contractors and their staff, as needed, for specific meeting agenda items. Attendees may not vote.

1. A Council Chair shall be appointed annually by the MCAH Programs and Policy Chief to preside over the Council meetings.
2. The Vice Chair shall be elected annually by the voting Council members and shall serve as Chair in the absence of the Council Chair.

1. Although Members are not covered by the Political Reform Act, Members shall agree to voluntary verbal disclosure of potential conflicts of interest to relevant discussions. The Member can either voluntarily recuse herself or himself from voting on the issue or can request that the Committee as a whole determine whether a potential conflict exists and if recusal from voting should be applied.
2. If recusal from vote either is self-applied or applied by the Council as a whole, participation in any discussion regarding the matter is permitted.

1. Council Meetings are open to the public.
2. MCAH staff and Council members may invite guests.
3. The Council's Members may adjourn to Executive Session without recorded minutes.