1. There is hereby established a Parole Advisory Board in, but not of, the State Parole Board. Notwithstanding the allocation of the board within the State Parole Board, the State Parole Board or any employee thereof shall not exercise any control over the Parole Advisory Board. The advisory board shall consist of 23 members. It shall include in its membership the Chairman of the State Parole Board or a designee, who shall serve ex officio; one member representing each of the following organizations and groups, who shall be appointed by the Governor: the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health, the Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Governor, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Victims of Crime Compensation Office, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Correctional Association, the County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey, the Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Wardens Association, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the American Parole and Probation Association, Governor’s Council on Substance Use Disorder, the community at large, treatment providers, victims’ rights groups and former inmates who have successfully completed parole. Two members of the Senate, who shall not be of the same political party and who shall serve during their terms of office, shall be appointed by the President of the Senate. Two members of the General Assembly, who shall not be of the same political party and who shall serve during their terms of office, shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

Members of the advisory board shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate, and serve a term of three years, except for the initial gubernatorial appointees, six of whom shall serve for two years and six of whom shall serve for four years. Each member shall serve for the term of appointment and until a successor is appointed. A member may be reappointed to the advisory board. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring in the membership of the advisory board for any reason other than the expiration of the term shall serve a term of appointment for the unexpired term only. All vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Any appointed member of the advisory board, except the legislative members, may be removed from the advisory board by the Governor, for cause, after a hearing, and may be suspended by the Governor pending the completion of the hearing. Legislative members may be removed for cause by the leader of their respective houses. Motions and resolutions may be adopted by the advisory board at a board meeting by an affirmative vote of not less than 12 members.

Members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses of serving on the board, to the extent that funds are available for this purpose.

The advisory board shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members. The members shall select a chair from among their number.

L.1997, c.215, s.1; amended 2001, c.79, s.3; 2023, c.177, s.95.