Continues Executive Order #30 Florio.

WHEREAS, on May 24, 1984 Executive Order No. 72 of Governor Kean created the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation; and

WHEREAS, the Council is composed of commissioners of various State departments and of concerned citizens who have had distinguished records in the area of mental retardation and developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Public Law 1987, Chapter 5 (N.J.S.A. 30:1AA-10 to -19) was enacted on January 20, 1987 establishing a permanent Office for Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation was renamed the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities by Executive Order No. 178 of Governor Kean on July 30, 1987; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities was continued for one year by Executive Order No. 223 of Governor Kean and for three years by Executive Order No. 30 of Governor Florio; and

WHEREAS, under N.J.S.A. 30:1AA-15, the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities serves as an Advisory Council to the Office for Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is an essential component of the Office for Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and should continue to serve as an Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities lapsed on December 31, 1993;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is hereby continued as of December 31, 1993 and shall remain in existence until December 31, 1996.

a. The Council shall consist of no more than 25 public members appointed by the Governor. The members shall be appointed from among persons representing people with disabilities, professionals in mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and persons from the business and health communities.

b. The Secretary of State and the Commissioners from the Departments of Human Services, Health, Education, Environmental Protection and Energy, Community Affairs, and/or their designees, shall serve on the Council.

c. The public members shall continue to serve for staggered three-year terms. Council vacancies among the public members shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

d. The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the Council from among members of the Council. The chairperson of the Council shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

e. The Council may further organize itself in any manner it deems appropriate and may enact by-laws it deems necessary to carry forth its responsibilities.

2. The Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities shall:

a. Advise the Secretary of State and the Commissioners of the Departments of Human Services, Health, Education, Environmental Protection and Energy, Community Affairs, and the Office for Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Human Services, regarding the priorities for prevention in the State;

b. Mobilize citizens and community agencies to support prevention-related activities;

c. Develop mechanisms to facilitate early detection;

d. Foster cooperative working relationships among responsible agencies; and

e. Provide other information on prevention as the Governor may request.

3. The Council, in performing its duties, shall consult with existing agencies for planning, coordination and delivery of prevention services to families at the State, county and local levels.

4. The Departments of State, Human Services, Health, Education, Environmental Protection and Energy, and Community Affairs are authorized and directed, to the extent consistent with law, to cooperate with the Council and to furnish it with such staff, office space and supplies as necessary to carry out its purpose under this Order.

5. The Council shall be responsible for serving as the Advisory Board to the New Jersey Disabilities Prevention Program, as funded through a cooperative agreement with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and shall provide guidance to the Office for Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities regarding the establishment, monitoring and evaluation of programs and surveillance systems for the prevention of disabilities.

6. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal
this 2nd day of May in the Year of
Our Lord, one thousand nine hundred
and ninety-four and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and eighteenth.

CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN
GOVERNOR

Attest:

Peter Verniero
Chief Counsel to the Governor