5. a. To assist and advise the commissioner in the administration of this act, there is created in the Department of Community Affairs a fire safety commission consisting of 27 members. The commission shall consist of: two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who shall not be both of the same political party; two members of the General Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who shall not be both of the same political party; 11 citizens of the State, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, no more than six of whom shall be of the same political party, including a representative of a volunteer fire organization, a representative of a construction labor organization, a representative of the fire insurance industry, a representative of fire suppression system manufacturers or installers, a representative of the New Jersey Apartment Association or the rental property industry, a representative of the construction industry, a representative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a municipal construction official, a representative of the New Jersey State Fire Prevention and Protection Association, and two members of the general public who are knowledgeable and experienced in matters related to fire safety; 12 citizens of the State appointed by the Governor, no more than six of whom shall be of the same political party, and who shall include a representative of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association, a representative of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, two representatives of the volunteer fire service, one of whom shall be a representative of the New Jersey State Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a representative of the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs’ Association, a representative of the New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs’ Association, a representative of the Professional Fire Fighters’ Association of New Jersey, a representative of the New Jersey State Association of Fire Districts, a municipal fire protection subcode official, a chief administrator of the fire department of a municipality with a population of 100,000 or more, according to the most recent federal decennial census, and two members of the general public who are knowledgeable and experienced in matters related to fire safety. The members of the Senate and General Assembly appointed to the commission shall serve for terms which shall be for the legislative session for which they were elected. Of the seven members first appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly, three shall be appointed for terms of five years, three shall be appointed for terms of four years, and one shall be appointed for a term of three years. The members appointed pursuant to P.L.2001, c.204, and the members appointed pursuant to P.L.2019, c.176, shall be appointed for an initial term of five years. Of the eight members first appointed by the Governor, three shall be appointed for terms of five years, three shall be appointed for a term of four years, and two shall be appointed for terms of three years. The first representative of the New Jersey State Association of Fire Districts appointed by the Governor shall be for a term of three years. Thereafter, members of the fire safety commission, except as provided above for members of the Legislature, shall be appointed for terms of five years. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled, in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term. Members may be removed by the appointing authority for cause.

b. Members of the fire safety commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in performance of their duties, within the limits of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available for that purpose.

c. To advise and assist the fire safety commission in the performance of its responsibilities under this act, there are created four advisory councils, one in each of the following subject areas: the “Uniform Fire Safety Act”; training and education which shall be comprised of at least 60 percent of the representatives of the volunteer fire service; statistics and information; and master planning and research. Additional advisory councils shall be created by the fire safety commission as it deems appropriate. Each advisory council shall consist of one member of the fire safety commission, who shall be chairman, and as many citizens who are knowledgeable and experienced in matters related to the particular subject as the fire safety commission shall appoint. Members of the advisory councils shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the fire safety commission.

L.1983, c.382, s.5; amended 1985, c.90; 1991, c.399; 2001, c.204; 2019, c.176.