38A:3-56 New Jersey Commission on Veterans' Benefits.

1. a. There is hereby established in the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs the New Jersey Commission on Veterans' Benefits consisting of 13 members as follows:

(1) the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, or a designee;

(3) the Commissioner of the Department of Health, or a designee;

(4) the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, or a designee;

(5) the Commissioner of the Department of Education, or a designee;

(6) the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, or a designee;

(7) the Secretary of State, or a designee;

(8) the Attorney General, or a designee; and

(9) five public members who are residents of this State and who are veterans, as defined under section 2 of P.L.1987, c.444 (C.38A:3-1.2), one to be appointed by the Governor, and four to be appointed one each by the President of the Senate, the Senate Minority Leader, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Assembly Minority Leader. At least two of the five public members shall be women veterans.

The public members of the commission shall serve for terms of three years and until the appointment and qualification of their successors, except that of the initial appointment of public members, three shall be appointed for a term of three years, and two shall be appointed for a term of two years. Any vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments are made.

b. The commission shall organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of a majority of its members and shall select from among its members a vice chairperson. The members shall select a secretary, who need not be a member of the commission. Thereafter, the commission shall meet quarterly and at the call of the chairperson. A meeting of the commission may also be called upon at the request of seven of the commission members, and seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof. The commission may conduct public hearings at such places and at such times as it shall designate, at which it may solicit the testimony of interested persons, groups and the general public.

c. The commission shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of 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. The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs shall provide such organizational and personnel support as the commission may request. All departments and agencies of the State shall furnish such advice and information, documentation, and assistance to the commission as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate its purposes.

d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but the public members may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

L.2017, c.375, s.1.