30:9A-25 New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council.

4. There is established in the Department of Children and Families the New Jersey Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council.

a. The purpose of the council shall be to: examine existing needs and services and make recommendations to the division for youth suicide reporting, prevention and intervention; advise the division on the content of informational materials to be made available to persons who report attempted or completed suicides; and advise the division in the development of regulations required pursuant to this act.

b. The council shall consist of 18 members as follows:

(1) the Commissioners of Human Services, Children and Families, Health and Senior Services, and Education, the executive director of the Juvenile Justice Commission established pursuant to P.L.1995, c.284 (C.52:17B-169 et seq.) and the chairman of the Community Mental Health Citizens Advisory Board established pursuant to P.L.1957, c.146 (C.30:9A-1 et seq.), or their designees, who shall serve ex officio;

(2) six public members appointed by the Governor, as follows: one person who is a current member of a county mental health advisory board, one person with personal or family experience with suicide, one person who is a current or retired primary or secondary school teacher, one person who is a current or former member of a local board of education, one psychiatrist and one person with professional experience in the collection and reporting of social science data;

(3) three public members appointed by the President of the Senate, no more than two of whom are members of the same political party, one of whom has volunteer or paid experience in the provision of services to survivors of suicide or youth at risk of attempting suicide, one of whom is an alcohol and drug counselor, and one of whom is a representative of the New Jersey Traumatic Loss Coalition; and

(4) three public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, no more than two of whom are members of the same political party, one of whom has knowledge of and interest in the prevention of youth suicide and the provision of education about suicide to high-risk populations, including religious, racial, ethnic or sexual minorities, one of whom is a pediatrician, and one of whom is a school-based counselor.

c. The public members shall be appointed no later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this act.

d. The public members shall serve for a term of five years; but, of the members first appointed, three shall serve for a term of two years, three for a term of three years, three for a term of four years and three for a term of five years. Members are eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of their terms. Vacancies in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original appointments.

e. The council shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the council.

f. The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits of funds available to the council.

g. The council shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

h. The Department of Children and Families shall provide staff support to the council.

L.2003, c.214, s.4; amended 2006, c.47, s.175.