2082                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                            Ch. 756

quorum. The Commission may delegate to any commissioner
the authority to conduct any proceeding within its
jurisdiction, and to any personnel of the Commission
which it deems qualified the authority to act as a
hearing examiner and to submit findings and
recommendations to the Commission. No decision in any
matter in which authority has been delegated under this
section shall be effective until made or confirmed, and
ordered filed, by the Commission in its principal
office.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Sections
2(1), 6, 7, 12, 14, 15B, 25, 28(c), 56, 62, 77, 82,
85(a), 86, and 101(b) of Article 78 - Public Service
Commission Law, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1975
Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) be and they are
hereby repealed and reenacted, with amendments, to read
as follows:

Article 78 — Public Service Commission Law

2.

(1)           "Personnel of the Commission" includes

commissioners, [people's counsel,] general counsel,
officers and employees of the Commission.

(JJ) "FAMILY" IN THE CASE OF COMMISSIONERS, THE
PEOPLE'S COUNSEL, THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND HEARING

EXAMINERS MEANS SPOUSE, DEPENDENT CHILD, PARENT, BROTHER
OR SISTER AND IN THE CASE OF OTHER PERSONNEL OF THE
COMMISSION AND OF THE OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL
MEANS SPOUSE OR DEPENDENT CHILD.

(KK) "RELATIVE" MEANS ANY PERSON RELATED BY BLOOD
OR MARRIAGE.

6.

(A)   The term of each commissioner shall be six
years from the expiration of his predecessor's term. A
commissioner, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN, shall continue in
office after his term expires until his successor has
qualified, but without lengthening his successor's term.
Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor for [the] ANY
unexpired term IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF
SECTION 5.

(B)   THE TERMS OF EACH COMMISSIONER APPOINTED
HEREUNDER SHALL COMMENCE ON JULY 1, 1976. WITH RESPECT
TO THE INITIAL APPOINTMENTS ONLY, THE TERM OF ONE
COMMISSIONER (WHO SHALL BE FULLTIME) SHALL EXPIRE ON JUNE
30, 1978, THE TERM OF THE SECOND COMMISSIONER SHALL
EXPIRE ON JUNE 30, 1979, THE TERM OF THE THIRD
COMMISSIONER (WHO SHALL BE FULLTIME) SHALL EXPIRE ON JUNE
30, 1980, THE TERM OF THE FOURTH COMMISSIONER SHALL
EXPIRE ON JUNE 30, 1981, AND THE TERM OF THE CHAIRMAN