(1) The director shall appoint advisory committees to assist the department. Advisory committees shall include, but are not limited to, the customer advisory board.

     (2) The customer advisory board shall provide the department with advice concerning the type, quality, and cost of the department's services. The customer advisory board and its membership shall be determined by the director to assure that all services are subject to advice from a representative selection of customers. At least annually, these committees shall meet to recommend, review, and comment on the service goals and objectives of the department and the budgets for operations of those services and the rates to be charged for those services. The advisory board may call upon the board to resolve disputes between agencies and the department which may arise with regard to service offerings, budgets, or rates.

     (3) The customer advisory board may be convened by a majority of its members, by its chair, or by the director.

[1999 c 80 § 7; 1987 c 504 § 9.]