2. There is created a 26-member council in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury which shall be designated as the Governor’s Council on Substance Use Disorder. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Governor’s Council on Substance Use Disorder is allocated to the Department of the Treasury, but, notwithstanding the allocation, the office shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof.

The council shall consist of 12 ex officio members and 14 public members.

a. The ex officio members of the council shall be: the Attorney General, the Commissioners of Labor and Workforce Development, Education, Human Services, Health, Children and Families, Community Affairs, Personnel and Corrections, the chair of the executive board of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council, the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Adjutant General. An ex officio member may designate an officer or employee of the department or office which the ex officio member heads to serve as the member’s alternate and exercise the member’s functions and duties as a member of the Governor’s Council on Substance Use Disorder.

b. The 14 public members shall be residents of the State who are selected for their knowledge, competence, experience or interest in connection with substance use disorder. They shall be appointed as follows: two shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and 10 shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. At least two of the public members appointed by the Governor shall be persons rehabilitated from alcohol use disorder and at least two of the public members appointed by the Governor shall be persons rehabilitated from substance use disorders involving drugs.

c. The term of office of each public member shall be three years; except that of the first members appointed, four shall be appointed for a term of one year, five shall be appointed for a term of two years and five shall be appointed for a term of three years. Each member shall serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified, and vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the remainder of the unexpired term. A public member shall be eligible for reappointment to the council.

d. The chairperson of the council shall be appointed by the Governor from among the public members of the council and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor’s term of office and until the appointment and qualification of the chairperson’s successor. The members of the council shall elect a vice-chairperson from among the members of the council. The Governor may remove any public member for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard.

e. The council shall meet at least monthly and at such other times as designated by the chairperson. Fourteen members of the council shall constitute a quorum. The council may establish any advisory committees it deems advisable and feasible.

f. The chairperson shall be the request officer for the council within the meaning of such term as defined in section 6 of article 3 of P.L.1944, c.112 (C. 52:27B-15).

g. The public members of the council shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for this purpose.

L.1989, c.51, s.2; amended 1996, c.5; 2006, c.47, s.107; 2017, c.131, s.99; 2023, c.177, s.71.