4. a. There is established in the division the “New Jersey Brewery, Cidery, Meadery, and Distillery Industry Advisory Council,” comprising seven members, one of whom shall be the executive director and one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, or their respective designees, who shall serve ex officio and as nonvoting members, and five public members to be appointed by the Governor, following consultation with the executive director and chief executive officer, two of whom shall be representatives of the limited brewery or restricted brewery industry, one of whom shall be a representative of the cidery industry, one of whom shall be a representative of the meadery industry, and one of whom shall be a representative of the craft distillery industry. To the maximum extent practicable and feasible, the members appointed from the general public shall be chosen so as to collectively provide wide geographical representation. The members appointed from the general public shall serve for terms of three years and may be reappointed and may serve until a successor has been appointed. Of the public members first appointed, the representatives of the limited brewery or restricted brewery industry shall be appointed for terms of three years, the representatives of the cidery and craft distillery industries shall be appointed for terms of two years, and the representative of the meadery industry shall be appointed for a term of one year. A vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. The members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, but the advisory council may, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it, reimburse members for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the discharge of their official duties.

b. The advisory council shall organize as soon as its membership has been appointed and shall select a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members and may select a secretary, who need not be a member of the advisory council. The advisory council shall meet twice annually, and at other times as determined by the advisory council.

c. It shall be the duty of the advisory council to assess the condition of the limited brewery, restricted brewery, cidery, meadery, and craft distillery industries of the State and to advise the executive director on expenditures from the account for research, development, and promotion of the New Jersey limited brewery, restricted brewery, cidery, meadery, and craft distillery industries.

d. The advisory council is entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of such employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for these purposes.

e. The Division of Travel and Tourism may promulgate rules and regulations subject to the approval of the Secretary of State to effectuate the purposes of P.L.2021, c.438 (C. 33:5-1 et seq.). The advisory council may employ, prescribe the duties, and fix and pay the compensation of such persons it may deem necessary to carry out the duties of the advisory council within the limits of available appropriations and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State.

L.2021, c.438, s.4.