New Jersey § 18a:4-52

§ 18a:4-52.

a. The Commission on Asian American Heritage is created and established in the Executive

Branch of the State Government. For the purposes of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution , the commission is allocated within the Department of Education, but notwithstanding

this allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control

by the department or any board or officer thereof. The commission shall consist of 21 members, including the Commissioner of Education,

ex officio, or a designee, the chair of the executive board of the Presidents' Council,

ex officio, or a designee, and 19 public members. Public members shall be appointed as follows: five public members shall be appointed

by the President of the Senate, at least one of whom shall have a master’s degree

in an area of Asian studies, Asian American studies, or related disciplines; five

public members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, at least

one of whom shall have a master’s degree in an area of Asian studies, Asian American

studies, or related disciplines; and nine public members shall be appointed by the

Governor, no less than four of whom shall at the time of their appointment have at

least a master’s degree in an area of Asian studies, Asian American studies, or related

disciplines. The public members shall be residents of the State who have served prominently as

spokespersons for, or as leaders of, organizations in the Asian or Asian American

heritage community which serve members of religious, ethnic, national heritage, or

social groups or who are experienced in the field of Asian or Asian American heritage

education. To the greatest extent practicable, they shall be chosen with due regard to provide

the commission with broad regional representation and ethnic diversity. At least one-half of the public members shall be of Asian or Asian American descent. b. Each public member of the commission shall serve for a term of three years, except

that of the initial members appointed: one member appointed by the President of the

Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and two members

appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of one year; two members appointed

by the President of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of the General

Assembly, and three members appointed by the Governor shall serve for terms of two

years; and two members appointed by the President of the Senate, two members appointed

by the Speaker of the General Assembly, and four members appointed by the Governor

shall serve for terms of three years. Public members shall be eligible for reappointment and shall serve until their successors

are appointed and qualified. The term of the successor of any incumbent shall be calculated from the expiration

of the term of that incumbent. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same

manner as the original appointment, but for the unexpired term only. c. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled

to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. d. The commission annually shall elect a chairperson from among its members. It shall meet upon the call of the chair or of a majority of the commission members. The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall

be required for the conduct of official business. e. The commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure

and shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of

the office.