4. a. The consortium shall have a board of directors that shall set strategic priorities and metrics to guide the consortium’s grant-making and other initiatives, as well as to approve grants pursuant to section 7 of P.L.2018, c.111 (C. 18A:64-100).

b. The board of directors shall consist of 16 members as follows:

(1) two members appointed by the Governor who shall not be of the same political party;

(2) one member appointed by the President of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the General Assembly;

(4) six members, no more than four of whom shall be of the same political party, appointed by the president of each member university, each of whom shall have background or experience in the field of journalism, media, or technology; and

(5) four members, no more than two of whom shall be of the same political party, appointed by a majority vote of the 12 board members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection, of which: (a) one member shall represent the media sector; (b) one member shall represent the technology sector; and (c) two members, not employed by the State or a member university at the time of the member’s appointment, shall have demonstrated a record of commitment to public service and understand the importance of media and technology to the State’s future.

c. Each board member shall serve a term of four years, except that the member representing the New Jersey media sector shall serve an initial term of one year and the member representing the New Jersey technology sector shall serve an initial term of two years. No board member shall serve more than two four-year terms. In the appointment of members to the board, every effort shall be made to strive for diversity and balance of representation according to gender, race, ethnicity, and geography within any limits allowed under law. Any vacancies in the appointed membership of the board occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only. Board members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funds available to the board.

L.2018, c.111, s.4; amended 2021, c.282, s.43.