13:1B-20 Veterans' Services Council.

22. There shall be within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, a Veterans' Services Council which shall consist of twelve members and shall include no less than two women. The Deputy Commissioner of Veterans' Affairs shall serve as a nonvoting ex-officio member. Each member of the council shall be a veteran, and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years, but for a term of three years for a term beginning after the effective date of P.L.2010, c.60, and shall serve until his successor has been appointed and has qualified, except that of the first appointments pursuant to P.L.1948, c.448, two shall be for a term of one year, two for two years, two for three years, and three for four years, and of the two members first appointed pursuant to P.L.2010, c.60, one shall serve for a term of two years and one shall serve for a term of three years. At no time shall a member be allowed to serve more than two terms in the aggregate. All appointments to the council shall be made in consultation with the leaders of all federally-chartered veterans' organizations in the State.

The members shall nominate a chairman by majority vote of the members, and six members shall constitute a majority. The nomination shall be sent to the Governor for approval. The chairman of the council shall be its presiding officer and shall serve until a successor has been nominated by the council and approved by the Governor.

Any vacancies in the membership of said council occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the unexpired term only. Any member of the council may be removed from office by the Governor, for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard. Any member who shall be absent for three meetings of the council without being excused for good cause by the chairman may, upon recommendation to the Governor by a majority vote of the members of the council, be removed from office by the Governor.

The members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

L.1948, c.448, s.22; amended 1987, c.444, s.18; 1988, c.138, s.21; 2010, c.60, s.1.