2970                                    LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 796

matters prescribed by this article.

2-102. Establishment of State Ethics Commission;
membership; meetings; staff.

(a)  Established. — There is a State Ethics
Commission.

(b)  Composition; appointment of members. — The
Commission consists of five members. The Governor shall
appoint three members, at least one of whom is a member of
the other principal political party to which the incumbent
Governor does not belong, with the advice and consent of the
Senate. The Governor also shall appoint one member
nominated by the President of the Senate and one member
nominated by the Speaker of the House. The Governor may
reject the nominee of the President, or of the Speaker, only
for cause in which event the President or the Speaker, as
the case may be, shall submit another nominee.

(c)  Qualifications of members.— A person is eligible
to serve as a member of the Commission if the person:

(1)  Does not hold any elected or appointed
office, is not a candidate for office of the United States,
the State, or of any political subdivision, or bicounty or
multicounty agency or incorporated municipality of the State
or in any political party;

(2)  Is not an employee of the United States, the
State, or of any political subdivision, or bicounty or
multicounty agency or incorporated municipality of the
State, or of any political party; and

(3)  Is not a registrant.

(d)  Term; vacancies. — The terms of the members are
five years and until their successors are appointed and
qualify. However, of the initial appointees, one shall have
an initial term of one year, one shall have an initial term
of two years, one shall have an initial term of three years,
one shall have an initial term of four years, and one shall
have an initial term of five years. Members may serve only
two consecutive five-year terms. Any vacancy occurring on
the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the
same manner as provided for appointments to the Commission.

(e)  Removal of member. — The Governor may remove a
member of the Commission on the grounds of neglect of duty,
misconduct in office, a disability rendering him unable to
discharge the powers and duties of the office, or a
violation of this article. Before removing a member from
the Commission, the Governor shall give the member written
notice of the reason for the intended action, and the member
shall have an opportunity to reply.