Section 16-303 - Regional advisory boards.
§ 16-303. Regional advisory boards.
(a) Established.- There are four regional advisory boards of the Office.
(b) Composition; appointment of members.- Each regional advisory board consists of five members appointed by the Governor.
(c) Districts.- Of the four regional advisory boards:
(1) the first shall advise public defender districts one, eight, and nine, which encompass Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Harford County;
(2) the second shall advise public defender districts two and three, which encompass Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne's County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County;
(3) the third shall advise public defender districts four, five, and seven, which encompass Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, Charles County, Prince George's County, and St. Mary's County; and
(4) the fourth shall advise public defender districts six, ten, eleven, and twelve, which encompass Allegany County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Washington County.
(d) Qualification of members.- Each member of a regional advisory board shall be:
(1) a resident of a district represented by that regional advisory board; and
(2) (i) a judge of a circuit court;
(ii) a judge of the District Court; or
(iii) an active attorney admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
(e) Tenure; vacancies.-
(1) The term of a member of a regional advisory board is 3 years.
(2) A vacancy occurring on a regional advisory board during the term of a member shall be filled by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(f) Chair.-
(1) The Governor shall annually designate a chair of each regional advisory board from among the members of that regional advisory board.
(2) The chair shall preside over and represent the interests of that regional advisory board in carrying out this title.
(g) Quorum.- Three members of a regional advisory board are a quorum.
(h) Meetings.-
(1) Each regional advisory board shall hold at least one regular annual meeting at a time and place that the chair designates.
(2) Additional meetings may be called:
(i) on notice by the chair;
(ii) on notice by the Public Defender;
(iii) on notice by the district public defender from a district represented by that regional advisory board; or
(iv) at the request of at least three members of the regional advisory board.
(i) Compensation and reimbursement for expenses.- A member of a regional advisory board:
(1) may not receive compensation for serving on the regional advisory board; but
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
[An. Code 1957, art. 27A, § 10(b), (c), (e); 2008, ch. 15, § 2.]