2080

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 756

(1975 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That Sections 5, 5A, 15, 16, and 20 of Article
73 - Public Service Commission Law, of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1975 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement)
be and they are hereby repealed:

Article 78 - Public Service Commission Law

5.

[The Commission shall consist of three
commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the advice
and consent of the Senate. Each commissioner must be at
least 25 years of age, must be a registered voter
resident in Maryland when he is appointed and when he
qualifies, and must have been a resident of Maryland for
at least five years next preceding his appointment. The
Governor shall designate one of the commissioners as
chairman, and the chairman shall serve in that capacity
until expiration of his term as commissioner.
Commissioners shall be eligible for reappointment.]

5A.

[The Governor may appoint with the advice and
consent of the Senate a substitute commissioner, who
shall serve for a term of six years. The qualifications
set forth in § 5 hereof and the provisions for tenure and
removal set forth in § 6 and § 8 hereof shall apply to
the substitute commissioner, and his compensation shall
be as provided in the annual budget. Upon assignment by
the chairman of the Commission, the substitute
commissioner is authorized to sit in the absence of a
regular commissioner, and shall, in such instances, have
the authority of a regular commissioner. He shall also
be eligible for designation by the Governor as the
State's representative on the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Commission.]

15.

[The people's counsel shall have the following
powers and duties:

(1) He shall appear before the Commission, and the
courts on behalf of the interests of the public in
general in any matter or proceeding, of which the
Commission has original jurisdiction and in which he may
deem the public interest to be involved, including but
not limited to proceedings with regard to the rates,
service, or practices of any public service company or
any violation of the provisions of this article. He
shall have, in such appearance, all the rights of counsel
for a party in interest, including but not limited to the
right to present his case, to cross examine, to object,