52:17B-41.2. State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians; compensation; expenses; report

There is hereby created the State Board of Examiners of Ophthalmic Dispensers and Ophthalmic Technicians in the Division of Professional Boards of the Department of Law and Public Safety, hereinafter designated as the "board," which shall be composed of five members who shall be appointed by the Governor, four of whom shall be ophthalmic dispensers and the other member shall be an optometrist duly licensed by the State Board of Optometrists. The four ophthalmic dispensers shall be engaged in the practice of ophthalmic dispensing in the State of New Jersey for not less than five years, each of whom shall be residents of the State of New Jersey, and also shall be persons of recognized ability and honor, and who may be appointed by the Governor from a list to be furnished within thirty days after any vacancy occurs in the membership of said board by the Society of Dispensing Opticians of New Jersey, Incorporated, of whom the persons nominated are members; and for every membership filled in said board, at least three names shall be submitted to the Governor, and from the names thus submitted, the Governor may select one person to be a member of said board; and the optometrist may be appointed by the Governor from a list to be furnished within thirty days after any vacancy occurs in the membership of said board by the New Jersey Optometric Association, of whom the person nominated is a member; and for every membership filled in said board, at least three names shall be submitted to the Governor, and from the names thus submitted, the Governor may select one person to be a member of said board.

One ophthalmic dispenser member shall be appointed for a term of one year; another ophthalmic dispenser member shall be appointed for a term of two years; another ophthalmic dispenser member shall be appointed for a term of three years; another ophthalmic dispenser member shall be appointed for a term of four years; and the optometrist member shall be appointed for a term of five years; and upon the expiration of the term of said optometrist member, his successor shall be an ophthalmic dispenser member of said board, so that at the expiration of the optometrist member's term on the board, the board shall thereafter be composed of five ophthalmic dispenser members.

Upon the expiration of the terms of members herein named, the Governor shall annually fill each vacancy resulting from the expiration of a term of office of a member for a term of five years by an appointment of an ophthalmic dispenser in the same manner as an original appointment is to be made.

Each appointee, within thirty days after receipt of his commission, shall take, subscribe and file in the office of the Secretary of State the oath or affirmation prescribed by law.

A vacancy resulting from any cause other than the expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by an appointment of an ophthalmic dispenser by the Governor in the same manner as an original appointment is to be made.

Each member of the board shall receive the sum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each regular examination conducted by the board, and each member of the board shall also be compensated for actual expenses incurred in the discharge of his official duties, all to the extent that funds are available from the license fees prescribed herein.

The Governor may remove any member for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard.

On June thirtieth of each year, the board shall submit to the Attorney General a written report. Such report shall include the names of all ophthalmic dispensers and ophthalmic technicians to whom licenses have been granted as provided in section six of this act, any cases heard and decisions rendered by the board, and the recommendation of the board as to future policies. Each member of the board shall review and sign such report before its submission to the Attorney General. The principal office of the board shall be in Trenton, New Jersey, but it may meet or conduct any of its business at any place in this State. The board shall empower any member to conduct any proceeding, hearing or investigation necessary to its purposes. Three members of the board shall be a quorum.

L.1952, c. 336, p. 1077, s. 2.