4. a. There is created, within the Department of Transportation, an Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Technical Advisory Committee to provide advice on the development and implementation of the program. The advisory committee shall consist of 10 members as follows: six members of the public appointed by the Governor who shall include one member with background or experience in the protection, preservation, maintenance, or management of native animal, insects, or plant populations, one member with background or experience in the preservation of natural or scenic resources, one member with background or experience in landscaping, one member who holds a license in landscape architecture pursuant to P.L.1983, c.337 (C. 45:3A-1 et al.), one member with background or experience in highway engineering, and one member with background or experience in biodiversity, environmental engineering, or environmental science; the Commissioner of Transportation, or the Commissioner of Transportation’s designee, who shall serve as an ex-officio voting member; the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the Commissioner of Environmental Protection’s designee, who shall serve as an ex-officio voting member; the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary of Agriculture’s designee, who shall serve as an ex-officio voting member; and the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Coordinator, who shall serve as a non-voting member and secretary to the advisory committee.

b. The public members shall serve for a term of three years from the date of their appointment and until their successors are appointed and qualified, except that of the members first appointed, three members shall serve for a term of three years and three members shall serve for a term of two years. Vacancies shall be filled for the balance of any unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. Public members of the advisory committee shall be eligible for reappointment.

c. The members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for this purpose.

d. The advisory committee shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its public members, who shall each serve a one-year term but may be selected to serve successive terms. The advisory committee shall meet upon the call of the chairperson or a majority of its voting members. A majority of the voting members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum, and no action of the advisory committee shall be taken except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the entire advisory committee.

e. The advisory committee activities shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Studying and evaluating prevailing research related to biodiversity, climate control, invasive species control, native plant life cycles, soil erosion, and other environmental or roadside vegetation management related subjects;

(2) Securing funding for research, feasibility studies, and integrated roadside vegetation management projects;

(3) Establishing integrated roadside vegetation management best practices;

(4) Advising the department on the necessity of regulations or revisions to applicable department regulations that concern roadside vegetation management; and

(5) Developing strategies for educating public officials, owners of property adjacent to roadsides, and the general public on integrated roadside vegetation management best practices.

f. The advisory committee shall report annually on its activities to the department, the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1).

L.2017, c.44, s.4.