1. (a) The Authority consists of:

   1. (1) The Secretary of Housing and Community Development;
   2. (2) The Secretary of Commerce;
   3. (3) The Secretary of Higher Education;
   4. (4) The Secretary of Transportation;
   5. (5) The Secretary of Natural Resources;
   6. (6) The Secretary of the Department of Planning;
   7. (7) The State Historic Preservation Officer; and

   8. (8) Ten members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate:

      1. (i) Two of whom shall be elected officials or representatives of local jurisdictions;
      2. (ii) Two of whom shall be appointed from names recommended by the President of the Maryland Senate;
      3. (iii) Two of whom shall be appointed from names recommended by the Speaker of the House of Delegates;
      4. (iv) One of whom is a public member of the Maryland Greenways Commission;
      5. (v) One of whom is a public member of the Maryland Tourism Development Board;
      6. (vi) One of whom is a member of the public who has significant education or experience in historic preservation; and
      7. (vii) One of whom is a member of the public who has significant education or experience in heritage tourism.

2. (b) Of the elected officials or representatives from local jurisdictions, the Governor shall appoint:

   1. (1) One elected official or representative from a list submitted by the Maryland Association of Counties; and
   2. (2) One elected official or representative from a list submitted by the Maryland Municipal League.
3. (c) The members appointed to the Authority shall represent the gender, racial, and geographic makeup of the State.
4. (d) A member of the Authority may not also be a member of the board of directors or any other type of governing or oversight body of an organization qualifying for State funds as a recognized or certified heritage area.
5. (e) A cabinet member of the Authority may designate a representative to act in the absence of the cabinet member.

6. (f)

   1. (1) Except for State officials, the term of a member of the Authority is 4 years.
   2. (2) The terms of members appointed by the Governor are staggered as required by the terms provided for members on October 1, 1996.
   3. (3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
   4. (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
   5. (5) At the end of the term of a member or on the resignation or removal of a member, the Governor shall appoint a member to the Authority with the advice and consent of the Senate.
7. (g) The Secretary of Planning shall serve as chair of the Authority.
8. (h) The Governor may remove a member that a Governor appointed for incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.

Added by Acts 1996, c. 601, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1996. Amended by Acts 1997, c. 14, § 1, eff. April 8, 1997; Acts 2000, c. 209, § 2, eff. July 1, 2000; Acts 2005, c. 440, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2005; Acts 2017, c. 62, § 6.