2. a. The New Jersey Commission on Italian and Americans of Italian Heritage Cultural and Educational Programs is created and established in the Executive Branch of the State Government. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the commission is allocated within the Department of Education, but notwithstanding this allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or any board or officer thereof.

The commission shall consist of 21 members, including the Commissioner of Education and the chair of the executive board of the Presidents’ Council, serving ex officio, and 19 public members.

Public members shall be appointed as follows: five public members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, at least one of whom shall have a Masters’ degree in an area of Italian studies or language; five public members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, at least one of whom shall have a Masters’ degree in an area of Italian studies or language; and nine public members shall be appointed by the Governor, no less than four of whom shall at the time of their appointment have at least a Masters’ degree in an area of Italian studies or language. The public members shall be residents of the State who have served prominently as spokespersons for, or as leaders of, organizations in the Italian and Americans of Italian heritage community which serve members of religious, ethnic, national heritage or social groups or who are experienced in the field of Italian and Americans of Italian heritage education. To the greatest extent practicable, they shall be chosen with due regard to afford the commission with broad regional representation and ethnic diversity. At least one-half of the public members shall be of Italian descent.

b. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial members so appointed: one member appointed by the President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and two members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of one year; two members appointed by the President of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and three members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of two years; and two members appointed by the President of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and four members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of three years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment. They 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 by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only.

c. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

d. The commission annually shall elect a chairman from among its members. It shall meet upon the call of the chairman or of a majority of the commission members. The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of official business.

e. The commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure and shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office.

L.2001,c.343,s.2.