30:1AA-15 Governor's council, executive committee.

6. a. The Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, originally created by Executive Order No. 72 (signed May 24, 1984), shall serve as an advisory council to the Commissioner of Human Services and to the Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities.

The State Departments of Human Services, Education, Health and Senior Services, Environmental Protection and Community Affairs are authorized and directed, to the extent consistent with the law, to cooperate with the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities and to furnish it with resources necessary to carry out its purposes under this act.

The Governor shall appoint 25 public members to the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities to serve three-year terms, except that, of the members first appointed, nine shall be appointed to serve for three years, eight shall be appointed to serve for two years, and eight shall be appointed to serve for one year. At least one of the public members appointed to the Governor's council shall be an advocate for persons with developmental disabilities.

b. The Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities shall establish from its members the Executive Committee of the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities. This committee shall have full power to act in lieu of the full council. The executive committee shall consist of 12 members, all of whom are members of the Governor's council. The Commissioners of the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Human Services, Education, Community Affairs and Environmental Protection shall serve as ex officio members. The Secretary of State and the Chairperson of the Governor's council shall serve as nonvoting, ex officio members of the executive committee. The Governor's council shall elect from its membership the remaining five members of the executive committee. These persons, as members of the Governor's council, shall be selected for their knowledge, competence, experience or interest in connection with the prevention of developmental disabilities. Members of the executive committee may, from time to time, designate other individuals as their representatives.

The executive committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Governor's council shall elect an executive committee chairperson from among the five voting cabinet members of the executive committee. The executive committee may select from among its members a vice-chairperson and other officers or subcommittees which are deemed necessary or appropriate.

L.1987, c.5, s.6; amended 1994, c.58, s.26; 2000, c.82, s.3; 2010, c.50, s.27.