MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                            2083

7.

The compensation of the chairman [shall be $16,000
per year and that of each of the other commissioners
shall be 14,000 per year] AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS SHALL
BE AS PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET BUT IN NO CASE SHALL BE LESS
THAN $40,000 PER YEAR FOR THE CHAIRMAN AND $35,000 PER
YEAR FOR EACH OF THE OTHER FULLTIME COMMISSIONERS .
Members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred while
engaged in the performance of their duties, in accordance
with the standard travel regulations.

12.

The general counsel of the Commission shall be an
attorney-at-law of this State and shall be appointed by,
AND SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF, the [Governor upon the
recommendation of the] Commission. His compensation
shall be as provided in the annual State budget. [His
term of office shall be two years, and he shall be
eligible for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled
for the unexpired term in the same manner as original
appointments are made. He may be removed by the Governor
for the same reasons, and in the same manner as
commissioners.]

14.

The people's counsel shall be an attorney—at—law of
this State. He shall be appointed by the Governor WITH
THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE and shall hold
office at the pleasure of the Governor. HE SHALL SERVE
FULL—TIME.             He shall receive an annual salary as

provided in the budget WHICH MAY NOT BE LESS THAN $35,000
PER YEAR. HE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATIONS OF
THE OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL.

15B.

The ANNUAL BUDGET SHALL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR
THE OFFICE OF people's counsel [may] TO hire [from time
to time, as needed, in connection with specific
proceedings before the Commission,] SUCH STAFF AS IS
DEEMED NECESSARY IN ADDITION TO THAT PROVIDED UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF § 15(C) TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES. THE OFFICE
OF PEOPLE'S COUNSEL MAY HIRE, OR MAY RETAIN FROM TIME TO
TIME AS REQUIRED FOR A PARTICULAR MATTER, experts in the
utility regulation field including but not limited to
economists, cost of capital experts, rate design experts,
[and, to the extent Commission personnel cannot be
utilized,] accountants, engineers, [and] transportation
specialists, LAWYERS, AND ANY OTHER EXPERTS CONSIDERED
NECESSARY TO DISCHARGE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.           [An

aggregate sum of not less than twenty—five thousand
dollars ($25,000.00) for compensation and/or expenses of
these experts shall be provided in the budget, and if not
used for this purpose, shall revert to the treasury;
nothing] NOTHING contained herein precludes the people's