(a) There is hereby created in the Division of Professional Boards of the Department of Law and Public Safety, an Orthoptic Commission within the State Board of Medical Examiners. The commission shall consist of 6 members, 3 of whom shall be Board Certified Ophthalmologists who have practiced ophthalmology in the State of New Jersey for at least 5 years, and 3 of whom shall be optometrists licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey and who have practiced optometry in this State for at least 5 years. The members of the commission shall be appointed by the Governor. The initial appointments to the commission shall be 2 members for a term of 1 year, one ophthalmologist and one optometrist; 2 members for a term of 2 years, one ophthalmologist and one optometrist; and 2 members for a term of 3 years, one ophthalmologist and one optometrist. Members shall thereafter be appointed for terms of 3 years. Each member shall hold office after the expiration of his term until a successor shall be duly appointed and qualified. A vacancy in the office of any member shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments and shall be filled for the unexpired term only, providing that any unexpired term of an ophthalmologist shall be filled by an ophthalmologist, and any unexpired term of an optometrist shall be filled by an optometrist in the same manner as original appointments are made.

Each ophthalmological appointment shall be made by the Governor from a list of 3 names submitted by a related professional organization or society having not less than 100 members. Said nominees shall be members in good standing of said association or society. Each optometric appointment shall be made by the Governor from a list of 3 names submitted by the New Jersey Optometric Association. Said nominees shall be members in good standing of said association.

(b) The commission shall meet at least twice a year and shall also meet upon the call of the Attorney General. The commission shall carry out its responsibility under this act. The Attorney General shall provide the advisory commission with such facilities and personnel as shall be required for the proper conduct of its business.

The commission, with the approval of the Attorney General, may authorize reimbursement of the members for their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission.

(c) There is hereby appropriated to the Department of Law and Public Safety for the purposes of administering this act all fees and revenues received by the board from the effective date of this act. The expenditure of such appropriation shall be authorized by the Attorney General with the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting.

L.1968, c. 114, s. 9, eff. June 25, 1968.