§ 1507-a. State cemetery board citizens advisory council.

(a) There is hereby created a state cemetery board citizens advisory
council, to study, investigate, monitor and make recommendations with
respect to the maintenance and operation of the state cemetery vandalism
restoration, monument repair or removal and administration fund. Such
advisory council shall study and investigate incidents of cemetery
abandonment, vandalism and desecration, monitor the administration of
such fund and recommend changes to improve the management of and
expenditures from the state cemetery vandalism restoration, monument
repair or removal and administration fund.

(b) The advisory council shall be composed of a member designated by
the secretary of state, a member designated by the attorney general, a
member designated by the commissioner of health, a member designated by
the comptroller and a member designated by the commissioner of taxation
and finance. The appointees to the advisory council shall not be
employees of the department of state, department of law, department of
health, department of audit and control or department of taxation and
finance. Each of the members shall serve for a term of two years,
provided, however, that the first appointments by the comptroller and
commissioner of taxation and finance shall serve for a term of one
year. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be
filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the balance
of the unexpired term. Persons designated or appointed to the advisory
council shall have demonstrated a long-standing interest, knowledge and
experience in the care and preservation of gravesites. One member shall
be elected chairman of the advisory council by a majority vote of the
members of such council.

(c) The members of the advisory council shall receive no compensation
for their services but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred
in the performance of their duties.

(d) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly at the call of
the chairman.

(e) The advisory council may request and shall receive from any
department, division, board, bureau, commission, agency, public
authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof such
assistance and data as will enable it properly to carry out its
activities hereunder and effectuate the purposes set forth herein.