HARRY HUGHES, Governor

509

409J.

(A)  THERE IS A MARYLAND ETHNIC HERITAGE COMMISSION WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

(B)  THE COMMISSION SHALL:

(1)  ADVISE THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON STATE PROGRAMS AND
ACTIVITIES RELATING TO MARYLAND'S ETHNIC HERITAGE;

(2)  SPONSOR AND PROMOTE HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, AND
EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATION
OF ETHNIC CULTURAL HISTORY THROUGHOUT THE STATE;

(3)  STRIVE TO INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING AMONG ETHNIC
GROUPS AND BETWEEN ETHNIC GROUPS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE;

(4)  RECOMMEND AND STIMULATE THE COMMEMORATION OF
HISTORICAL EVENTS AND THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
MADE BY INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS FROM WITHIN THE ETHNIC
COMMUNITIES;

(5)  MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH AND COORDINATE THE
ACTIVITIES OF ALL ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE AND SERVE AS A
LIAISON BETWEEN STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE VARIOUS ETHNIC
COMMUNITIES; AND

(6)  PROMOTE THE RESEARCH ON AND THE PRESERVATION OF
THE TRADITIONS AND ARTIFACTS OF MARYLAND'S ETHNIC CULTURES.

(C)  THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIST OF 15 MEMBERS WHO SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR, WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF
THE SENATE, FROM AMONG THE VARIOUS ETHNIC COMMUNITIES IN THE
STATE.

(D)  AT THE FIRST MEETING OF EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE
COMMISSION SHALL ELECT FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS A CHAIRMAN AND VICE
CHAIRMAN.

(E)  EACH MEMBER SERVES FOR A TERM OF 3 YEARS. THE TERMS OF
THE MEMBERS ARE STAGGERED AS REQUIRED BY THE TERMS OF THE MEMBERS
SERVING ON JULY 1, 1984. ANY MEMBER MAY BE REAPPOINTED, EXCEPT
THAT ANY MEMBER WHO HAS SERVED 2 CONSECUTIVE 3-YEAR TERMS MAY NOT
BE REAPPOINTED UNTIL AT LEAST 1 YEAR AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THAT
MEMBER'S PREVIOUS TENURE.

(F)  EACH MEMBER SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION BUT SHALL
BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE STANDARD
STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS.

(G)  THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY
NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES IMPOSED UPON IT BY THIS