New Jersey § 26:2mm-3

§ 26:2mm-3.

There is established in the Department of Human Services the New Jersey Elderly Person Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. a. The purpose of the council shall be to examine existing needs of and services for

elderly persons at risk of suicide and make recommendations to the department for

suicide prevention and intervention strategies to help reduce the incidence of attempted

and completed suicides among elderly persons. b. The council shall consist of nine members as follows: (1) the Commissioners of Health and Human Services and the chairman of the Community Mental Health Citizens Advisory

Board established pursuant to P.L.1957, c. 146 ( C.30:9A-1 et seq. ), or their designees, who shall serve ex officio; (2) two public members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a person with

personal or family experience with suicide of an elderly person and one of whom shall

be an alcohol and drug counselor; (3) two public members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, who are not

members of the same political party, one of whom shall be a registered professional

nurse and one of whom shall be a licensed clinical social worker; and (4) two public members appointed by the President of the Senate, who are not members

of the same political party, one of whom shall be a physician who has been specially

trained in caring for elderly persons and has a certificate of added qualifications

in geriatrics and one of whom shall be a geropsychiatrist. c. The public members shall be appointed no later than 60 days after the enactment

of this act. 1 d. The public members shall serve for a term of five years; but, of the members first

appointed, two shall serve for a term of three years, two shall serve for a term of

four years and two shall serve for a term of five years. Members are eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of their terms. Vacancies in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner provided

for the original appointments. e. The council shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of

its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a secretary who need not be a member of the council. f. The public members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for

necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and within the limits

of funds available to the council. g. 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 to it for its purposes. h. The Department of Human Services shall provide staff support to the council. 1

L.2005, c. 274, enacted Jan. 6, 2006.