Section 24-601 - Commission on Civic Literacy [Section subject to abrogation].
§ 24-601. Commission on Civic Literacy [Section subject to abrogation].
(a) Established.- There is a Commission on Civic Literacy.
(b) Composition.- The Commission consists of the following members:
(1) The Governor, or the Governor's designee;
(2) The Lieutenant Governor, or the Lieutenant Governor's designee;
(3) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;
(4) The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee;
(5) The President of the Senate, or the President's designee;
(6) The Speaker of the House of Delegates, or the Speaker's designee;
(7) The Chair of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, or the Chair's designee;
(8) The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, or the Chair's designee;
(9) The State Superintendent of Schools, or the Superintendent's designee;
(10) The President of the State Board of Education, or the President's designee;
(11) The President of the Maryland Parent Teacher Association, or the President's designee;
(12) A State coordinator of the Maryland Legislators' Back to School Program to represent the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;
(13) A State coordinator of the Maryland Legislators' Back to School Program to represent the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(14) The President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, or the President's designee;
(15) The State coordinator of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution;
(16) The President of the Maryland State Teachers Association, or the President's designee;
(17) A representative of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Maryland, appointed by the Governor;
(18) The Secretary of Higher Education, or the Secretary's designee;
(19) The President of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, or the President's designee;
(20) The President of the League of Women Voters of Maryland, or the President's designee;
(21) A representative of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Maryland D.C. Delaware Broadcasters Association, appointed by the President of each organization acting jointly;
(22) The Executive Director of the Citizenship Law-Related Education Program for the Schools of Maryland, or the Executive Director's designee;
(23) A member of the Policy Studies Organization in the University System of Maryland, appointed by the Governor;
(24) The Chair of the Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement Network, or the Chair's designee;
(25) The President of the Maryland Council for the Social Studies, or the President's designee;
(26) The Director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), or the Director's designee;
(27) Two students enrolled in public high schools in Maryland, appointed by the Maryland Association of Student Councils;
(28) Two teachers who teach in public high schools in Maryland, appointed by the Maryland State Teachers Association; and
(29) One member of the judiciary of the State, appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.
(c) Chair, vice chair, and officers.- From among its members, the Commission shall elect a chair, vice chair, and any other officers necessary to carry out its functions.
(d) Staff.- The State Department of Education shall provide staff and other necessary support to the Commission using existing resources.
(e) Compensation and reimbursement for expenses.- A member of the Commission may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission, but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
(f) Meetings.- The Commission shall meet at least twice each year and may hold additional meetings at the discretion of the chair or at the request of a majority of the members. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates acting jointly shall call the first meeting of the Commission.
(g) Duties.- The Commission shall:
(1) Develop and coordinate programs in collaboration with schools to educate students in the importance of:
(i) Reasoned debate, good faith, negotiation, and compromise in representative democracy;
(ii) Individual involvement in creating successful communities; and
(iii) Consideration and respect for others in deliberating, negotiating, and advocating positions on public concerns;
(2) Identify civic education projects in Maryland and provide technical assistance to those projects as needed;
(3) Build a network of education professionals to share information and strengthen partnerships;
(4) Consult with organizations represented on the Commission as appropriate;
(5) Develop a clearinghouse that shall be available on the Internet to include:
(i) A database of civic education resources, lesson plans, and other programs and best practices in civic education;
(ii) A bulletin board to promote discussion of ideas relating to civic education;
(iii) An events calendar; and
(iv) Links to civic education research;
(6) Support successful civic education programs in Maryland and encourage the expansion of those programs; and
(7) Report on its activities to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, annually on or before October 1 of each year.
(h) Expenditures; services.- The Commission may:
(1) Seek, accept, and expend funds from any source, including donations, State appropriations, and federal grants; and
(2) Seek, accept, and use services from individuals, corporations, and government entities.
[2007, ch. 5, § 7; ch. 160; 2008, ch. 36, § 6; 2009, ch. 326.]