§ 14. State cannabis advisory board. 1. The state cannabis advisory board or "advisory board" is established within the office of cannabis management and directed to work in collaboration with the cannabis control board and the executive director to advise and issue recommendations on the use of medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis and cannabinoid hemp and hemp extract in the state of New York, and shall govern and administer the New York state community grants reinvestment fund pursuant to section 99-kk of the state finance law.

2. The state cannabis advisory board shall consist of thirteen voting appointed members, along with a representative from the department of environmental conservation, the department of agriculture and markets, the office of children and family services, the department of labor, the department of health, the division of housing and community renewal, the office of addiction services and supports, and the department of education, serving as non-voting ex-officio members. The governor shall have seven appointments, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall each have three appointments to the board. The members shall be appointed to each serve three year terms and in the event of a vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the remainder of the term. The appointed members and representatives shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as board members.

3. Advisory board members shall have statewide geographic representation that is balanced and diverse in its composition. Appointed members shall have an expertise in public and behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, effective rehabilitative treatment for adults and juveniles, homelessness and housing, economic development, environmental conservation, job training and placement, criminal justice, and drug policy. Further, the advisory board shall include residents from communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition, people with prior drug convictions, the formerly incarcerated, and representatives from the farming industry, cannabis industry, and organizations serving communities impacted by past federal and state drug policies.

4. The chairperson of the advisory board and the vice chairperson shall be elected from among the members of the advisory board by the members of such advisory board. The vice chairperson shall represent the advisory board in the absence of the chairperson at all official advisory board functions.

5. The advisory board shall make recommendations to the cannabis control board, the office and the legislature on cannabis and hemp cultivation, processing, distribution, transport, social and economic equity in the cannabis and hemp industries, criminal justice, public health and safety concerns, law enforcement related to cannabis and cannabis products, and on the testing and sale of cannabis and cannabis products.

6. The advisory board shall meet as frequently as its business may require. The advisory board shall enact and from time to time may amend bylaws in relation to its meetings and the transaction of its business. A majority of the total number of voting members which the board would have were there no vacancies, shall constitute a quorum and shall be required for the board to conduct business. All meetings of the advisory board shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of the public officers law.