§ 52:16A-142 — The New Jersey-Haiti Commission established.

2. a. The New Jersey-Haiti Commission is hereby created and established in the Department of State. The commission shall advise the Governor and Legislature on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the State and Haiti and on steps that may be taken to address the economic challenges within the State's Haitian-American community. b. The commission shall consist of 13 members, including the Secretary of State, or a designee, who shall serve as chairperson, and 12 public members who shall represent a variety of different professional sectors across the State, including non-profit organizations serving the Haitian community. The public members shall be appointed as follows: six public members shall be appointed by the Governor, two public members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, one public member shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate, two public members shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one public member shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the General Assembly. c. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the members first appointed, four shall be appointed to a term of one year, four shall be appointed to a term of two years, and four shall be appointed to a term of three years, as determined by the Governor. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. The public members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, and the term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration of the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than the expiration of the term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. d. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds appropriated for that purpose. e. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on a quarterly basis and shall consult with stakeholders, experts, and members of the public to gather information related to the current economic challenges of the Haitian-American community in New Jersey and on the economic and cultural links between the State and Haiti. L.2025, c.54, s.2.