3. The New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing shall be governed by a 17-member board. A majority of the members first appointed to the board shall include nurse representatives from among the members of the New Jersey Colleagues in Caring collaborative.

a. The members shall be appointed as follows:

(1) four members appointed by the President of the Senate who include: one representative of acute care facilities recommended by the New Jersey Hospital Association; one representative of long-term care facilities recommended by the Health Care Association of New Jersey; one registered professional nurse recommended by the New Jersey State Nurses Association; and one representative of home health care agencies recommended by the Home Care Association of New Jersey;

(2) four members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly who include: one registered professional nurse recommended by the New Jersey State Nurses Association; one registered professional nurse recommended by the Organization of Nurse Executives – New Jersey; one representative of acute care facilities recommended by the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals; and one licensed practical nurse who provides direct patient care; and

(3) nine members appointed by the Governor who include: one registered professional nurse recommended by the New Jersey State Nurses Association; one registered professional nurse recommended by the New Jersey League for Nursing; one health care facility staff nurse providing direct patient care, who is recommended by an organization that represents such nurses; two consumers of health care; one representative of baccalaureate and higher degree university nursing programs recommended by the Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs; one representative of associate degree nursing programs recommended by the Council of Associate Degree programs; one representative of diploma nursing programs recommended by the Association of Diploma Schools of Professional Nursing; and one representative of practical nursing programs recommended by the Practical Nurses Educator’s Council of New Jersey.

b. The term of office of each member shall be three years.

A member shall hold office for the term of his appointment and until his successor has been appointed and qualified. All vacancies shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. A member of the board is eligible for reappointment, but no member shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.

c. The board shall meet at least quarterly and shall meet as soon as practical following the appointment of its members to choose, from among the members and by a majority vote of the members, a chairperson and such other officers as it deems appropriate. The chairperson and other officers shall serve in their elected office for a term of two years and may not succeed themselves in office.

d. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for the reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in a manner consistent with the policies and procedures of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

L.2002, c.116, s.3; amended 2009, c.47, s.2.