1. a. There is established within the Department of Education a task force on the prevention of, and response to, sexual abuse of children. The purpose of the task force shall be to study and make recommendations for reducing the prevalence and impact of child sexual abuse in the State, including recommendations for school policies and training concerning child sexual abuse prevention and response.

b. The task force shall consist of the following 17 members:

(1) the Commissioner of Education, or a designee;

(2) the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, or a designee;

(3) the President of the State Board of Education, or a designee; and

(4) 14 public members appointed by the Governor, in consultation with the Department of Education, who shall include the following:

(a) a representative from: the New Jersey School Boards Association; a New Jersey teachers union; the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey; New Jersey Child Assault Prevention (NJCAP); the New Jersey Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers; and the New Jersey Children’s Alliance;

(b) a licensed therapist trained to counsel or treat child sexual abuse victims;

(c) a New Jersey county prosecutor;

(d) an individual who has experience and expertise in the field of harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies;

(e) a parent of a student enrolled in an elementary or secondary school in New Jersey; and

(f) an individual who is a survivor of child sexual abuse.

The appointment of public members shall reflect the geographic diversity of the State.

c. Public members of the task force shall serve for a term of three years, except that of the initial appointments, four public members shall serve for one year, five public members shall serve for two years, and five public members shall serve for three years. Vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members are eligible for reappointment to the task force.

d. The Commissioner of Education, or a designee, shall serve as chairperson of the task force. The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The task force shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the task force. The task force, in its discretion, may divide its membership into subcommittees in the course of carrying out its duties.

e. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the task force within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the task force for its purposes.

L.2019, c.107, s.1.