26:2H-5r Palliative Care and Hospice Care Advisory Council.

4. a. There is established in the Department of Health the Palliative Care and Hospice Care Advisory Council.

b. It shall be the duty of the council, in collaboration with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, to implement the provisions of P.L.2019, c.227 (C.26:2H-5o et seq.), including establishing the Palliative Care and Hospice Care Consumer and Professional Information and Education Program pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2019, c.227 (C.26:2H-5p), developing and facilitating the provision of information about palliative care and hospice care for the purposes of section 3 of P.L.2019, c.227 (C.26:2H-5q), and developing resources and programs to facilitate access to palliative care and hospice care services for patients and residents.

c. (1) The council shall be comprised of eleven members, to be appointed as follows: one member of the Senate appointed by the Senate President; one member of the General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; three public members appointed by the Senate President; threepublic members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and three public members appointed by the Governor.

(2) In selecting the public members, the Senate President, the Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Governor shall seek to include persons who have experience, training, or academic background in issues related to the provision of palliative care or hospice care, with an emphasis on addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and facilitating patient autonomy, access to information, and choice. Seven of the nine public members shall be comprised as follows: one physician, one advanced practice nurse or physician assistant, one nurse, one social worker, one chaplain, one pediatric oncologist, and one hospice administrator. The public members shall be board certified or have a hospice and palliative care certification, as appropriate to their discipline. Selections of public members may be made in consultation with: the State Board of Medical Examiners, the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee, the Board of Pharmacy, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Health Care Association of New Jersey, the Medical Society of New Jersey, the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, the New Jersey State Nurses Association, the Home Care and Hospice Association of New Jersey, LeadingAge New Jersey, the New Jersey State Society of Physician Assistants, and the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

d. All appointments shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.227 (C.26:2H-5o et seq.).

e. The public members shall serve for a term of five years; but, of the members first appointed, three shall serve for a term of three years, three for a term of four years, and three for a term of five years. Members are eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of their terms. Vacancies in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

f. The council shall organize as soon as is practicable upon the appointment of a majority of its members, and shall select a chairperson from among the members.

g. The members of the council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, within the limits of funds made available to the council, for necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

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

i. The Department of Health shall provide staff support to the council.

L.2019, c.227, s.4.