House Bill 1860, ratified by the General Assembly in late July, 2006, directed the Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force to establish the Stroke Advisory Council.

The Stroke Advisory Council is charged with responsibility for developing a statewide system of stroke care, including a system for identifying and disseminating information about the location of primary stroke centers.

The bill also directs the Task Force to include among Stroke Advisory Council members:

• Four physicians
• A hospital administrator
• Representatives from the American Heart Association, the North Carolina Association of Rescue and Emergency Medical Services, and Area Health Education Centers

The Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force is also expected to appoint other relevant experts in the field.