§ 8-204

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Capital region” means Frederick County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County.

(3) “Central region” means Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.

(4) “Eastern Shore region” means Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Somerset County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County.

(5) “Southern region” means Calvert County, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County.

(6) “Western region” means Allegany County, Garrett County, and Washington County.

(b) The Commission consists of the following members:

(1) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services;

(2) the Secretary of Juvenile Services;

(3) a representative of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, designated by the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services;

(4) a representative of the Department of Juvenile Services, designated by the Secretary of Juvenile Services;

(5) a Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services;

(6) the president of the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association;

(7) the president of the Maryland Sheriffs Association;

(8) the president of the Maryland Criminal Justice Association;

(9) the Attorney General of the State;

(10) the president of a university or college in the State with a correctional education curriculum, appointed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission;

(11) one correctional officer of the State recommended by the exclusive representative for the officers covered under Title 10, Subtitle 9 of this article and appointed by the Governor;

(12) five correctional officers or officials appointed under subsection (c) of this section;

(13) the Director of the Division of Parole and Probation within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; and

(14) one employee of the Division of Parole and Probation recommended by the exclusive representative for the employees of the Division of Parole and Probation and appointed by the Governor.

(c) (1) The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, five correctional officers or officials from local correctional facilities to be members of the Commission.

(2) The five members appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall represent each of the following geographic areas of the State:

(i) the capital region;

(ii) the central region;

(iii) the Eastern Shore region;

(iv) the southern region; and

(v) the western region.

(3) The term of a member who is appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection is 3 years.

(4) The terms of the members who are appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Commission on June 1, 2024.

(5) (i) At the end of a term, a member who was appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(ii) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(d) Except for the five members appointed by the Governor under subsection (c) of this section and the member appointed under subsection (b)(14) of this section, a member of the Commission may serve personally at a Commission meeting or designate a representative from the member’s unit or association who may act at any meeting to the same effect as if the member were personally present.