52:16A-76. Board of Trustees

5. a. The general responsibility for the proper oversight of the Cultural Trust shall be vested in a Board of Trustees, which shall possess the powers and duties specified in this act. The board shall consist of 15 voting members.

b. The Secretary of State, or a designee, the State Treasurer, or a designee, the chair of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, or a designee, the chair of the New Jersey Historic Trust, or a designee, and the chair of the New Jersey Historical Commission, or a designee, shall serve as ex-officio members of the board.

c. Two public members, who are not of the same political party, shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, and two public members, who are not of the same political party, shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly. These public members shall serve for terms coextensive with the legislative term in which they are appointed, subject to reappointment after the expiration of the legislative term.

d. Six public members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The term of office of each public member appointed pursuant to this subsection shall be five years, except for the initial appointments, which shall be made as follows: two members shall be appointed for a three-year term, two members shall be appointed for a four-year term, and two members shall be appointed for a five-year term.

e. No public member of the board appointed under subsections c. and d. of this section shall serve concurrently on the New Jersey Historical Commission, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, or the board of the New Jersey Historic Trust.

f. The Governor, for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard, may remove a public member of the board. A vacancy occurring among any of the public members, other than by expiration of term, shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term only and in the same manner as the original appointment. A member may serve until a successor is appointed and has qualified. No person appointed pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall serve for more than two successive terms, provided, however, that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be eligible for two successive terms excluding the unexpired term.

g. The public members of the board shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

h. Annually, at the first meeting of the board held in each State fiscal year, the members of the board shall elect one of the public members to serve as chair of the board. Under regulations adopted by the board, the board may establish an executive committee composed of no fewer than three board members, which committee may exercise powers vested in and perform duties imposed upon the board to the extent designated and permitted by the board. The board may establish such advisory boards and committees as it may deem advisable.

i. Members and employees of the board shall be subject to the provisions of the "New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law," P.L.1971, c.182 (C.52:13D-12 et seq.).

j. A majority of the authorized membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes provided, however, that at least one member of the quorum is a member pursuant to subsection b. of this section or a designee of that member. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the board.

k. A true copy of the minutes of every meeting of the board or the executive committee shall be delivered promptly, after the certification of the chair thereof, to the Governor. No action taken at a meeting by the board or the executive committee shall have effect until approved by the Governor or until 10 days after the copy of the minutes shall have been delivered. If, within the 10-day period, the Governor returns the copy of the minutes with a veto of any action taken by the board or the executive committee or any member thereof at a meeting, such action shall be null and void and of no effect. The Governor may approve all or part of the action taken at a meeting prior to the expiration of the 10-day period.

l. Any dissolution of the Cultural Trust shall be on the condition that the Cultural Trust has no debts, contractual duties or obligations outstanding, or that provision has been made for the payment, discharge, or retirement of any debts, contractual duties or obligations. Upon any dissolution of the Cultural Trust, all property, rights, funds, and assets thereof shall pass to and become vested in the State, and all moneys shall be used expressly for carrying out the purposes of this act.

m. The board shall receive from the Attorney General of the State all legal counsel and services necessary to carry out the purposes of the Cultural Trust.

L.2000,c.76,s.5.