Section 45.15. Mental hygiene medical review board; organization

(a)  There  shall  be  within  the commission a mental hygiene medical
  review board. The board shall be composed  of  up  to  fifteen  members,
  including  specialists  in  forensic  pathology, psychiatry and internal
  medicine to be appointed by the governor. The governor  shall  designate
  one  of  the  members  to  serve as chair of the board. Members shall be
  appointed for terms of three years, provided, however, that one-third of
  the members first appointed shall be appointed for a one year  term  and
  one-third  for  two  year  terms.  Vacancies shall be filled in the same
  manner as original appointments for the remainder of any unexpired term.
  Members shall continue in office after the  expiration  of  their  terms
  until  their  successors have been appointed and qualified. The governor
  may remove any member of the board whenever in his judgment  the  public
  interest may require such removal. In case of such removal, the governor
  shall file with the department of state a statement indicating the cause
  for  such removal. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
  the chair of the board may appoint committees of five or more members of
  the board and delegate in writing to any such committee the authority to
  perform the functions, powers  and  duties  of  the  board  pursuant  to
  section 45.17 of this article.
    (b)  The  members of the board shall receive no compensation for their
  services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses
  incurred in the performance of their duties.
    (c) The board shall have an executive secretary and such officers  and
  employees  as  the  chair of the commission shall assign upon request of
  the chair of the board, to assist it in the performance of its duties.
    (d) All records of the proceedings, the deliberations  of  the  mental
  hygiene  medical  review  board and any testimony given before the board
  shall not be subject to disclosure under article thirty-one of the civil
  practice law and rules.
    (e) The board or any committee appointed by the  chair  of  the  board
  shall  meet  at the request of its chair or the chair of the commission.
  Any member of the board who fails to attend three  consecutive  meetings
  of  the  board  or the committee to which such member is assigned by the
  chair of the board, unless excused by the chair of the board,  shall  be
  considered to have vacated his or her office unless otherwise ordered by
  the  governor.  The term of any such person appointed by the governor to
  fill such vacancy shall be governed by the provisions of this section.