4. There is established in the Executive Branch of the State government, the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission. 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 Human Services, but notwithstanding that allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof.

The commission shall consist of the Commissioner of Health, the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Children and Families, the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, and the State Treasurer, who shall be members ex officio, and seven public members who are residents of this State, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for terms of five years, two of whom are appointed upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate, one of whom is a provider of health care services to children in this State and two of whom are appointed upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom is a provider of health care services to children in this State. The five public members first appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of one, two, three, four and five years, respectively.

Each member shall hold office for the term of his appointment and until his successor has been appointed and qualified. A member of the commission is eligible for reappointment.

Each ex officio member of the commission may designate an officer or employee of the ex officio member’s department to represent the member at meetings of the commission, and each designee may lawfully vote and otherwise act on behalf of the member for whom he constitutes the designee. Any designation shall be in writing delivered to the commission and filed with the office of the Secretary of State and shall continue in effect until revoked or amended in the same manner as provided for designation.

L.1987, c.370, s.4; amended 1993, c.103, s.2; 1994, c.149, s.1; 1998, c.143, s.2; 2006, c.47, s.105; 2007, c.342, s.1; 2012, c.17, s.121.