§ 52:16A-137 — "New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission" established; membership requirements.

1. a. There is established in, but not of, the Department of State the New Jersey Ireland Trade Commission. The commission shall consist of 23 members, to be appointed as follows: (1) (a) Four members of the Legislature shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, two of whom shall have current or past involvement in organizations that promote Irish affairs or shall have interest in the well-being of trade relations between New Jersey and Ireland; and two members of the Legislature shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, both of whom shall have current or past involvement in organizations that promote Irish affairs or shall have interest in the well-being of trade relations between New Jersey and Ireland. (b) Four members of the Legislature shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, two of whom shall have current or past involvement in organizations that promote Irish affairs or shall have interest in the well-being of trade relations between New Jersey and Ireland; and two members of the Legislature shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly, both of whom shall have current or past involvement in organizations that promote Irish affairs or shall have interest in the well-being of trade relations between New Jersey and Ireland. (c) The legislative members of the commission shall serve during the two-year legislative term in which the appointments are made. (2) Eleven members of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor. Six members shall serve for a term of three years and five shall serve for a term of four years. The 11 members thus appointed shall include at least one representative from: a public institution of higher education; the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, or its successor organization; and at least two public members representing Irish American communities neither of whom shall be members of the same political party. b. All appointments shall be made no later than 90 days following the day of enactment of P.L.2023, c.64 (C.52:16A-137 et seq.). A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. c. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limit of funds appropriated to the commission or otherwise made available to it for its purposes. d. The commission shall meet and hold hearings at the places it designates throughout the State. L.2023, c.64, s.1.