| 1 | 1 | | |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. |
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| 4 | 4 | | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. |
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| 5 | 5 | | *sb0254* |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | SENATE BILL 254 |
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| 8 | 8 | | P1 5lr0109 |
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| 9 | 9 | | (PRE–FILED) CF HB 196 |
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| 10 | 10 | | By: Chair, Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee (By Request – |
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| 11 | 11 | | Departmental – Veterans and Military Families) |
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| 12 | 12 | | Requested: September 29, 2024 |
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| 13 | 13 | | Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025 |
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| 14 | 14 | | Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment |
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| 15 | 15 | | |
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| 16 | 16 | | A BILL ENTITLED |
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| 17 | 17 | | |
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| 18 | 18 | | AN ACT concerning 1 |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | State Government – Department of Veterans and Military Families – Board and 2 |
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| 21 | 21 | | Commission – Membership and Oversight 3 |
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| 22 | 22 | | |
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| 23 | 23 | | FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Veterans and Military Families to provide 4 |
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| 24 | 24 | | oversight of the War Memorial Building; altering the membership of the Maryland 5 |
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| 25 | 25 | | Veterans Trust Fund Board of Trustees; altering the membership of the Maryland 6 |
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| 26 | 26 | | Veterans Commission; repealing the War Memorial Commission; and generally 7 |
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| 27 | 27 | | relating to the Department of Veterans and Military Families. 8 |
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| 28 | 28 | | |
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| 29 | 29 | | BY repealing 9 |
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| 30 | 30 | | Article – State Government 10 |
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| 31 | 31 | | Section 9–932 through 9–939 and the part “Part IV. War Memorial Commission” 11 |
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| 32 | 32 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 12 |
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| 33 | 33 | | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13 |
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| 34 | 34 | | |
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| 35 | 35 | | BY adding to 14 |
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| 36 | 36 | | Article – State Government 15 |
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| 37 | 37 | | Section 9–908.1 16 |
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| 38 | 38 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 17 |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18 |
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| 40 | 40 | | |
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| 41 | 41 | | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 19 |
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| 42 | 42 | | Article – State Government 20 |
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| 43 | 43 | | Section 9–914, 9–914.1, and 9–917 21 |
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| 44 | 44 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 22 |
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| 45 | 45 | | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 23 |
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| 46 | 46 | | |
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| 47 | 47 | | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 24 |
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| 48 | 48 | | Article – State Government 25 2 SENATE BILL 254 |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | Section 9–915 1 |
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| 52 | 52 | | Annotated Code of Maryland 2 |
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| 53 | 53 | | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3 |
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| 54 | 54 | | |
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| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4 |
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| 56 | 56 | | That Section(s) 9–932 through 9–939 and the part “Part IV. War Memorial Commission” of 5 |
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| 57 | 57 | | Article – State Government of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed. 6 |
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| 58 | 58 | | |
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| 59 | 59 | | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 7 |
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| 60 | 60 | | as follows: 8 |
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| 61 | 61 | | |
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| 62 | 62 | | Article – State Government 9 |
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| 63 | 63 | | |
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| 64 | 64 | | 9–908.1. 10 |
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| 65 | 65 | | |
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| 66 | 66 | | (A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE OVERSIGHT OF THE WAR 11 |
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| 67 | 67 | | MEMORIAL BUILDING AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION. 12 |
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| 68 | 68 | | |
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| 69 | 69 | | (B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS THAT P ROVIDE 13 |
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| 70 | 70 | | FOR THE MANAGEMENT O F THE WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING IN A MANNER THAT: 14 |
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| 71 | 71 | | |
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| 72 | 72 | | (I) PERMITS THE GREATEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE BUILDING 15 |
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| 73 | 73 | | BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE AND BY PATRIOTI C ORGANIZATIONS IN T HE STATE; 16 |
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| 74 | 74 | | AND 17 |
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| 75 | 75 | | |
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| 76 | 76 | | (II) TO THE EXTENT POSSIB LE, PERMITS THE USE BY T HE 18 |
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| 77 | 77 | | PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATI ONS WITHOUT COST . 19 |
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| 78 | 78 | | |
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| 79 | 79 | | (2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENFO RCE THE REGULATIONS . 20 |
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| 80 | 80 | | |
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| 81 | 81 | | (C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY USE , FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND 21 |
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| 82 | 82 | | ADMINISTRATION OF TH E BUILDING, ANY FUNDS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR 22 |
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| 83 | 83 | | THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE 23 |
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| 84 | 84 | | PURPOSES. 24 |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | (D) THE STATE AND BALTIMORE CITY JOINTLY SHALL HOLD TITLE T O THE 25 |
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| 87 | 87 | | WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING AND THE MEMO RIAL SITE. 26 |
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| 88 | 88 | | |
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| 89 | 89 | | 9–914. 27 |
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| 90 | 90 | | |
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| 91 | 91 | | (a) The powers and duties of the Trust shall rest in and be exercised by a Board 28 |
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| 92 | 92 | | of Trustees. 29 |
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| 93 | 93 | | |
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| 94 | 94 | | (b) The Board of Trustees shall consist of the following 11 members: 30 |
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| 95 | 95 | | SENATE BILL 254 3 |
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| 96 | 96 | | |
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| 97 | 97 | | |
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| 98 | 98 | | (1) the Secretary, ex officio, or the Secretary’s designee, who shall serve as 1 |
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| 99 | 99 | | the chair; 2 |
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| 100 | 100 | | |
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| 101 | 101 | | (2) the Secretary of Aging, ex officio, or the Secretary’s designee; 3 |
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| 102 | 102 | | |
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| 103 | 103 | | (3) the Secretary of Labor, ex officio, or the Secretary’s designee; 4 |
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| 104 | 104 | | |
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| 105 | 105 | | (4) the Secretary of Health, ex officio, or the Secretary’s designee; 5 |
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| 106 | 106 | | |
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| 107 | 107 | | (5) the Secretary of Human Services, ex officio, or the Secretary’s designee; 6 |
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| 108 | 108 | | |
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| 109 | 109 | | (6) the Adjutant General of the Military Department, ex officio, or the 7 |
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| 110 | 110 | | Adjutant General’s designee; 8 |
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| 111 | 111 | | |
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| 112 | 112 | | (7) one representative of each of the following organizations, appointed by 9 |
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| 113 | 113 | | the Governor: 10 |
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| 114 | 114 | | |
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| 115 | 115 | | (i) a veterans service organization; 11 |
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| 116 | 116 | | |
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| 117 | 117 | | (ii) a nonprofit organization that serves veterans; and 12 |
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| 118 | 118 | | |
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| 119 | 119 | | (iii) the business community; 13 |
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| 120 | 120 | | |
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| 121 | 121 | | (8) AS A NONVOTING TRUST EE, a member of the House of Delegates 14 |
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| 122 | 122 | | appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 15 |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | (9) AS A NONVOTING TRUST EE, a member of the Senate appointed by the 16 |
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| 125 | 125 | | President of the Senate. 17 |
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| 126 | 126 | | |
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| 127 | 127 | | (c) The Governor shall consider geographical balance in making appointments to 18 |
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| 128 | 128 | | the Board of Trustees. 19 |
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| 129 | 129 | | |
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| 130 | 130 | | (d) Except for the ex officio members or their designees: 20 |
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| 131 | 131 | | |
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| 132 | 132 | | (1) the term of a member is 4 years; 21 |
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| 133 | 133 | | |
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| 134 | 134 | | (2) the terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided 22 |
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| 135 | 135 | | for members of the Board on July 1, 2013; 23 |
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| 136 | 136 | | |
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| 137 | 137 | | (3) at the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 24 |
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| 138 | 138 | | appointed and qualifies; 25 |
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| 139 | 139 | | |
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| 140 | 140 | | (4) a member who is appointed after a term has begun serves for the rest 26 |
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| 141 | 141 | | of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies; and 27 |
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| 142 | 142 | | |
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| 143 | 143 | | (5) a member may serve no more than 2 terms. 28 |
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| 144 | 144 | | 4 SENATE BILL 254 |
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| 145 | 145 | | |
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| 146 | 146 | | |
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| 147 | 147 | | 9–914.1. 1 |
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| 148 | 148 | | |
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| 149 | 149 | | (a) The Board shall meet at places and dates to be determined by the Board, but 2 |
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| 150 | 150 | | not less than 2 times a year. 3 |
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| 151 | 151 | | |
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| 152 | 152 | | (b) A majority of the VOTING trustees is a quorum. 4 |
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| 153 | 153 | | |
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| 154 | 154 | | (c) A trustee: 5 |
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| 155 | 155 | | |
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| 156 | 156 | | (1) may not receive compensation as a trustee; but 6 |
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| 157 | 157 | | |
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| 158 | 158 | | (2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 7 |
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| 159 | 159 | | Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 8 |
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| 160 | 160 | | |
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| 161 | 161 | | (d) The Department shall provide staff, supplies, and office space for the Board. 9 |
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| 162 | 162 | | |
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| 163 | 163 | | 9–915. 10 |
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| 164 | 164 | | |
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| 165 | 165 | | In this Part II of this subtitle, “Commission” means the Maryland Veterans 11 |
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| 166 | 166 | | Commission. 12 |
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| 167 | 167 | | |
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| 168 | 168 | | 9–917. 13 |
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| 169 | 169 | | |
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| 170 | 170 | | (a) (1) The Commission consists of the following members appointed by the 14 |
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| 171 | 171 | | Governor. 15 |
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| 172 | 172 | | |
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| 173 | 173 | | (2) Of the members: 16 |
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| 174 | 174 | | |
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| 175 | 175 | | (i) 1 shall be appointed AS A NONVOTING MEMBER from each [of 17 |
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| 176 | 176 | | the 8 congressional districts in the State] COUNTY VETERAN COMMI SSION; 18 |
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| 177 | 177 | | |
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| 178 | 178 | | (ii) 1 shall be a veteran appointed from the State at large; 19 |
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| 179 | 179 | | |
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| 180 | 180 | | (iii) 1 shall be a woman veteran appointed from the State at large; 20 |
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| 181 | 181 | | |
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| 182 | 182 | | (iv) 1 shall be a representative of a retired enlisted organization; 21 |
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| 183 | 183 | | |
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| 184 | 184 | | (v) 1 shall be a veteran of the Iraq or Afghanistan conflict, as defined 22 |
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| 185 | 185 | | in § 1–202(a–1) of the Public Safety Article; 23 |
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| 186 | 186 | | |
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| 187 | 187 | | (vi) 1 shall be appointed from a list of individuals submitted to the 24 |
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| 188 | 188 | | Governor by each of the following organizations: 25 |
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| 189 | 189 | | |
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| 190 | 190 | | [1. the American Ex–Prisoners of War, Inc.;] 26 |
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| 191 | 191 | | |
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| 192 | 192 | | [2.] 1. the American Legion; 27 |
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| 193 | 193 | | SENATE BILL 254 5 |
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| 194 | 194 | | |
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| 195 | 195 | | |
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| 196 | 196 | | [3.] 2. the AMVETS; 1 |
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| 197 | 197 | | |
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| 198 | 198 | | [4.] 3. the Catholic War Veterans; 2 |
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| 199 | 199 | | |
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| 200 | 200 | | [5.] 4. the Disabled American Veterans; 3 |
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| 201 | 201 | | |
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| 202 | 202 | | [6.] 5. the Fleet Reserve Association; 4 |
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| 203 | 203 | | |
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| 204 | 204 | | [7.] 6. the Jewish War Veterans; 5 |
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| 205 | 205 | | |
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| 206 | 206 | | [8.] 7. the Marine Corps League; 6 |
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| 207 | 207 | | |
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| 208 | 208 | | [9.] 8. the Maryland Military Officers Association of America; 7 |
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| 209 | 209 | | |
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| 210 | 210 | | [10.] 9. the Military Order of the Purple Heart; 8 |
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| 211 | 211 | | |
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| 212 | 212 | | [11. the Polish Legion of American Veterans;] 9 |
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| 213 | 213 | | |
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| 214 | 214 | | [12.] 10. the Veterans of Foreign Wars; 10 |
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| 215 | 215 | | |
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| 216 | 216 | | [13.] 11. the Vietnam Veterans of America; 11 |
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| 217 | 217 | | |
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| 218 | 218 | | [14.] 12. the Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.; 12 |
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| 219 | 219 | | |
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| 220 | 220 | | [15.] 13. the National Association for Black Veterans; 13 |
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| 221 | 221 | | |
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| 222 | 222 | | [16.] 14. the Colonial Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of 14 |
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| 223 | 223 | | America; and 15 |
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| 224 | 224 | | |
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| 225 | 225 | | [17.] 15. the Reserve Organization of America; and 16 |
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| 226 | 226 | | |
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| 227 | 227 | | (vii) [1 shall be an honorary nonvoting member appointed from a list 17 |
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| 228 | 228 | | of individuals submitted to the Governor by the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association] A 18 |
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| 229 | 229 | | DESIGNEE FROM A MARYLAND NONPROFIT OR GANIZATION REPRESENT ING 19 |
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| 230 | 230 | | VETERANS AND MILITAR Y FAMILIES. 20 |
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| 231 | 231 | | |
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| 232 | 232 | | (b) Each member must be a resident of the State and a veteran. 21 |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
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| 234 | 234 | | (c) (1) The term of an appointed member is 5 years. 22 |
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| 235 | 235 | | |
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| 236 | 236 | | (2) The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the 23 |
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| 237 | 237 | | terms provided for members of the Commission on October 1, 1984. 24 |
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| 238 | 238 | | |
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| 239 | 239 | | (3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 25 |
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| 240 | 240 | | appointed and qualifies. 26 6 SENATE BILL 254 |
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| 241 | 241 | | |
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| 242 | 242 | | |
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| 243 | 243 | | |
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| 244 | 244 | | (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 1 |
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| 245 | 245 | | rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 2 |
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| 246 | 246 | | |
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| 247 | 247 | | (5) (I) When an organization is no longer a part of the Commission, the 3 |
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| 248 | 248 | | appointment shall terminate at the end of the current member’s term. 4 |
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| 249 | 249 | | |
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| 250 | 250 | | (II) AN ORGANIZATION ’S REPRESENTATIVE SEA T MAY BE 5 |
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| 251 | 251 | | REMOVED IF THE ORGAN IZATION FAILS TO APP OINT A NEW COMMISSIO NER FOR 2 6 |
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| 252 | 252 | | CONTINUOUS YEARS . 7 |
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| 253 | 253 | | |
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| 254 | 254 | | (6) AN ORGANIZATION MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE COMMISSION IF 8 |
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| 255 | 255 | | A REPRESENTATIVE FRO M THE ORGANIZATION I S NOT RECOMMENDED BY THAT 9 |
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| 256 | 256 | | ORGANIZATION . 10 |
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| 257 | 257 | | |
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| 258 | 258 | | (d) [A new organization may not be eligible for representation on the Commission, 11 |
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| 259 | 259 | | by appointment of the Governor, unless it is congressionally chartered] A MAJORITY OF 12 |
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| 260 | 260 | | THE VOTING MEMBERS O F THE COMMISSION IS A QUORU M. 13 |
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| 261 | 261 | | |
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| 262 | 262 | | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14 |
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| 263 | 263 | | October 1, 2025. 15 |
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