B. The committee shall be composed of no more than 30 members, not including the co-chairs, provided that at least, four of those members shall include:

1. (1) two members nominated by the secretary of Indian affairs; and
2. (2) two members nominated by the director of the office of African American affairs.

C. Additional members will be recruited through an open call:

1. (1) Operational staff will post a call for members along with an application form on the department’s website and advertise the call broadly in collaboration with OAAA, IAD, and community-based organizations whose work focuses on health equity within the communities most impacted by maternal mortality and morbidity.

2. (2) Operational staff will receive applications and conduct an initial analysis using a scoring matrix to evaluate applications that prioritizes applicants who are working in and representing communities that are most impacted per the state maternal mortality ratio so that the composition of the committee reflects:

   1. (a) the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the state;
   2. (b) the differing geographic regions within the state, including rural and urban areas;
   3. (c) tribal areas and communities; and
   4. (d) communities that are most impacted by pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, or a lack of access to relevant perinatal and intrapartum care services.

F. Members may be reimbursed for expenses related to meeting attendance.

1. (1) Members who must forsake critical income to attend meetings may, with the approval of the department, be reimbursed for loss of that income in an amount not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) per meeting, whether virtual or in person.
2. (2) Members required to travel in excess of 50 miles for an in-person meeting may, with the approval of the department, receive per diem and mileage for attending that meeting pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act.
3. (3) Operational staff will advise all members of the opportunity to receive these types of reimbursement, provide forms needed to complete enrollment according to departmental policy, and provide any assistance members need to complete and submit forms.
4. (4) Members may not initiate a request for critical income or travel reimbursement for meetings that occurred in a previous fiscal year.

H. Each member shall receive training on trauma and the impacts of trauma, including secondary trauma, trauma of racism and trauma of maternal mortality and morbidity presented by a trainer who is a member of communities that are most impacted by pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, or a lack of access to unbiased, affordable and culturally congruent perinatal and intrapartum care services.

[7.4.8.10 - N, NMAC, 11/08/2022]