1. (a) There is a Maryland Advisory Council on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The Council consists of 18 members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.
   2. (2) Of the 18 Council members, at least five of the members shall be deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

3. (c) Of the 18 Council members:

   1. (1) one shall be the State Superintendent or a designee from the State Department of Education;
   2. (2) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Maryland Department of Health;
   3. (3) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of Human Services;
   4. (4) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of Transportation;
   5. (5) one shall be from the Commission on Civil Rights;
   6. (6) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Maryland Department of Labor;
   7. (7) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of Housing and Community Development;
   8. (8) one shall be the Superintendent or a designee from the Maryland School for the Deaf;
   9. (9) one shall be the Secretary or a designee from the Department of Aging; and
   10. (10) nine shall be from the general public.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The nine members from the general public shall be chosen from different geographical areas of the State.

   2. (2) Of the nine members from the general public:

      1. (i) five shall be deaf and hard of hearing individuals;
      2. (ii) one shall be a private citizen with special knowledge or expertise relating to services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals;
      3. (iii) one shall be a parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child;
      4. (iv) one shall be from a private agency providing services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals; and
      5. (v) one shall be a person with special knowledge or expertise relating to services to individuals who are deafblind.

Added by Acts 2001, c. 537, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2002, c. 19, § 1, eff. April 9, 2002; Acts 2010, c. 216, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2011, c. 580, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2011; Acts 2017, c. 62, § 6; Acts 2019, c. 8, § 5.