(a) Members of the boards of visitors shall be selected from a cross-section of lay people in the community, including but not limited to individuals in the fields of law, judiciary, education, sociology, psychology and other related fields who shall serve in an advisory capacity to the superintendent of the institution to which they are appointed. The boards may report to the Governor, directly, when they deem it appropriate in the performance of their duties. Members of the boards of visitors, because of their deep concern for the welfare of the youths in care within their respective institutions, are in a position to offer pertinent and valuable assistance, comments and advice to the superintendent and to the director of the Division for Youth, in order to improve the facility's treatment and training program.

(b) The boards of visitors shall hold at least six meetings per annum with the superintendent and cause a copy of the minutes and proceedings thereof to be sent forthwith to each member of the boards of visitors, to the superintendent of the institution and to the director of the Division for Youth.

(c) The boards of visitors, subject to the approval of the superintendent, have the authority to seek ways of establishing cooperation, understanding and mutual respect between the institution and the local community.

(d) The boards of visitors shall submit, by the 31st day of July each year, a detailed annual report of their visits and meetings and suggestions to the superintendent of the institution for the year ending on the 30th day of June preceding the day of such report, and such report shall be forwarded by the superintendent of the institution, together with the superintendent's response and commentary, to the director of the Division for Youth by the 31st day of August of each year.

(e) The boards of visitors, subject to the approval of the superintendent, have the authority to act as liaison with services within the institution, such as recreational, educational, cultural and therapeutic services which have not been provided in the regular institutional program.

(f) The boards of visitors, subject to the approval of the superintendent, have the authority to aid their respective institutions in the establishment of programs within the local community which will assist youths residing in the institution to secure local employment, educational, recreational, cultural and therapeutic services.

(g) Members of the boards of visitors shall have access to residents and shall have the right to inspect all physical areas, facilities and programs conducted under the auspices of their respective institutions. They may request of the superintendent the appearance of any staff member to attend regular meetings in order to remain fully briefed and knowledgeable as to institutional operations.

(h) The boards of visitors, as agents of the division, and with its approval, may receive and accept any grant, gift, devise or bequest of money or land to it, the State, board, division or institution, subject to the provisions of the State Finance Law. Any such acquisitions, including income therefrom, shall be applied or expended subject to the regulations of the division.

(i) Members of the boards of visitors, shall not receive any compensation for their services, but shall receive actual and necessary traveling and other expenses, to be paid after audit as other current expenditures of the institutions.