5. a. The chairman of the board, after consulting with the board, shall assign any case not otherwise assigned, such as county jail, workhouse, or penitentiary cases, to a special panel composed of any two members or any one member and one hearing officer as necessary for the efficient functioning of the board.

b. Nothing contained in this act shall be deemed to preclude a member of any board panel from exercising all the functions, powers, and duties of a hearing officer upon designation by the chairman; provided, however, that no member so designated shall participate in the disposition of a panel or board review of his initial decision.

c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2019, c.363)

d. Representatives of the board or the chairman designated pursuant to this act may include employees of the board and employees of other agencies such as the Department of Corrections, provided that no employee of the Department of Corrections shall be so designated without the approval of the Commissioner of Corrections. Such representatives shall not participate in the disposition of parole cases.

L.1979, c.441, s.5; amended 1982, c.71, s.1; 1995, c.280, s.36; 2001, c.79, s.17; 2019, c.363, s.9.