(1) The department will create a SHIP advisory committee (SAC) that will be a subcommittee of the WISHA advisory committee and will advise the department on program policy issues and participate in the grant application review process. The SAC will have eight to ten members, including equal numbers of employer and employee representatives, and others with relevant experience and expertise. Members will be appointed to serve three-year renewable terms by the assistant director of the division of occupational safety and health (DOSH). The initial term for half of the first group of appointees will be eighteen months. SAC membership will include:

(a) At least one employer representative from the WISHA advisory committee or an employer representative recommended by the WISHA advisory committee employer representatives; and

(b) At least one employee representative from the WISHA advisory committee or an employee representative recommended by the WISHA advisory committee employee representatives.

(2) The SAC will be supplemented by ad hoc grant review committees consisting of selected members of the SAC together with other individuals with experience and expertise in the specific topic areas under review. Members of such ad hoc grant review committees will be appointed by the assistant director for DOSH, taking into consideration recommendations from the SAC and WISHA advisory committee.

(3) All meetings of the SAC will be convened and chaired by the assistant director for DOSH or designee.

(4) The SAC will provide the following assistance:

(a) Advice on SHIP policy issues to DOSH and the WISHA advisory committee;

(b) Make recommendations to DOSH and the WISHA advisory committee regarding funding priority areas;

(c) Review and comment on funding recommendations made by grant review committees to the assistant director of DOSH;

(d) Keep records of the SACs decisions;

(e) Develop and maintain communication networks in the community.

(5) SAC and grant review committee members will disclose to the department any potential conflicts of interest with specific project applications, whether direct or indirect. The department will determine whether a member's connection to a project should result in recusal from voting on the project. The department's decision and reasons supporting the decision will be documented in the meeting minutes.

(6) SAC and grant review committee members will not disclose any information about applications to anyone not authorized access to the information by law or regulation.