There is established in the Executive Branch of the State government, the New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research. 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 Health and Senior Services, but notwithstanding that allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof. The members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The term of office of each appointed member shall be three years, but of the members first appointed, three shall be appointed for a term of one year, four for terms of two years, and three for terms of three years. All vacancies shall be filled for the balances of the unexpired terms in the same manner as the original appointments.
Appointed members are eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of their terms.
A member shall continue to serve upon the expiration of his term until a successor is appointed. The members of the commission shall not receive compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission. The commission shall annually elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its members. The chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the commission, shall preside at all meetings of the commission and shall perform other duties that the commission may prescribe. The executive director shall serve as secretary to the commission and shall carry out its policies under the direction of the chairman.