1. (a)

   1. (1) The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor.

   2. (2) Of the seven members:

      1. (i) one shall be a member of the Maryland Association of the Deaf;
      2. (ii) one shall be a deafblind individual;
      3. (iii) one shall be a member of the Potomac Chapter of the Registry of the Interpreters for the Deaf who holds a license under this part; and
      4. (iv) four shall be determined by the Board by regulation.

   3. (3)

      1. (i) The Governor shall appoint the members from a list of names submitted from a nomination process established by the Office.
      2. (ii) To the extent practicable, the members appointed under this section shall reflect the racial and geographic diversity of the State.

2. (b) Each member shall:

   1. (1) be a resident of the State; and
   2. (2) be proficient in American Sign Language.
3. (c) Before taking office, each member appointed to the Board shall take the oath or affirmation required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The term of a Board member is 2 years, beginning on the date of appointment.
   2. (2) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
   3. (3) A member appointed after a term has begun serves only for the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
   4. (4) A member may not serve more than three consecutive full terms.

5. (e)

   1. (1) The Governor may remove a member for incompetence, misconduct, neglect of duties, or other sufficient cause.

   2. (2) The Governor shall remove a member who:

      1. (i) ceases to meet the requirements under which the member was appointed under subsection (a) of this section; or
      2. (ii) fails to attend at least 50% of the regularly scheduled meetings of the Board during any 12-month period.

Added by Acts 2023, c. 269, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2023; Acts 2023, c. 270, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2023.