19:44A-5. Election law enforcement commission; creation; members; appointment; qualifications; term of office; compensation; allocation to department of law and public safety; independence
There is hereby created a commission consisting of four members which shall be designated as the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. The members shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of 3 years, beginning on July 1 and ending June 30, except as hereinafter provided. The Governor shall designate one of the commission members to serve as chairman of the commission. No more than two members shall belong to the same political party, and no person holding a public office or an office in any political party shall be eligible for appointment to the commission. Of the members initially appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, one for a term of 2 years and one for a term of 1 year. Each member shall serve until his successor has been appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy, however, the successor shall be appointed in like manner for the unexpired term only. The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this act. For the purpose of complying with the provisions of Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the Election Law Enforcement Commission is hereby allocated within the Department of Law and Public Safety; but, notwithstanding said allocation, the commission shall be independent of any supervision or control by the department or by any board or officer thereof, it being the intention of this act that the assignment, direction, discipline and supervision of all the employees of the commission shall be so far as possible, and except as otherwise provided in this act, fully determined by the commission or by such officers and employees thereof to whom the commission may delegate the powers of such assignment, direction, discipline and supervision.
L.1973, c. 83, s. 5, eff. April 24, 1973. Amended by L.1983, c. 579, s. 9, eff. Jan. 17, 1984.