a. There is established in the Department of Agriculture the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council, comprising eight members, three of whom shall be the Secretary of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Commerce, Energy and Economic Development and the Dean of Cook College at Rutgers University, or their designees, who shall serve ex officio and as nonvoting members, and five members of the general public to be appointed by the State Board of Agriculture, two of whom shall be holders of a plenary winery license, two of whom shall be holders of a farm winery license and one of whom shall be a viticulturist. To the maximum extent practicable and feasible, the members appointed from the general public shall be chosen so as to collectively provide wide geographical representation. The members appointed from the general public shall serve for terms of three years and may be reappointed and may serve until a successor has been appointed. Of the public members first appointed, two shall be appointed for terms of three years, two shall be appointed for terms of two years, and one shall be appointed for a term of one year. A vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only. The members shall serve without compensation, but the council may, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it, reimburse members for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties.

b. The council shall organize as soon as its membership has been appointed and shall select a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members and may select a secretary, who need not be a member of the council. The council shall meet twice annually, and at such other times as may be necessary.

c. It shall be the duty of the council to assess the condition of the wine industry of the State and to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on expenditures from the New Jersey Wine Promotion Account for research, development, and promotion of the New Jersey wine industry. The council shall also review the wine certification made by the Director of the Division of Taxation pursuant to section 4 of this 1985 amendatory and supplementary act.

d. The council is entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of such 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 these purposes.

e. The council shall promulgate rules and regulations subject to the approval of the State Board of Agriculture to effectuate the purposes of P.L.1985, c.233 (C. 4:10-76 et al.). The council may employ, prescribe the duties, and fix and pay the compensation of such persons it may deem necessary to carry out the duties of the council within the limits of available appropriations and subject to the approval of the State Board of Agriculture.

L.1985, c.233, s.3; amended 1989, c.209, s.5.