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<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 23 – Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities">
  <section prefix="§" num="23-1" heading="Definitions.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">As used in this subtitle, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless their context clearly indicates otherwise.</para>
    <para num="(b)" />
    <para num="(c)" heading="City.">“City” means the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, the body corporate as established by &lt;cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter"&gt;the Charter of Baltimore City&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Commission.">“Commission” means the Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Other terms.">Any other term used in this subtitle shall be defined as such terms are defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and the federal regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, as amended.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §242</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 22-125</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-2" heading="Purpose.">
    <text>It is the purpose of this Commission to:</text>
    <para num="(1)">advise the City on the accessibility of City facilities, programs, and services for citizens with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(2)">assist the City to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and</para>
    <para num="(3)">assist the City in providing information and education programs to City government, businesses, and industries with regard to reasonable accommodations for employment and other issues concerning persons with disabilities.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §241</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-3" heading="Commission established.">
    <text>There is a Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities.</text>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §243</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-4" heading="Members; associates.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Members.">
      <para num="(1)">The Commission consists of 23 members:<para num="(i)">a Mayor’s representative;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">a representative of the City Council; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">21 members appointed by the Mayor under &lt;cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6"&gt;Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter&lt;/cite&gt; as follows:<para num="A.">9 persons with disabilities, not employed in the field of disabilities;</para>
          <para num="B.">3 family members of persons with disabilities; and</para>
          <para num="C.">9 representatives of business, industry, community organizations, non-profit organizations, and organizations representing persons with disabilities, at least 3 of whom are persons with disabilities.</para>
        </para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">Of the members appointed under paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection, at least 1 must be appointed from each of the 14 Council Districts.</para>
      <para num="(3)">Each member appointed under paragraph (1)(iii)C of this subsection must work or reside in the City.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Associates.">One representative from each of the following agencies serves as a non-voting associate:<para num="(1)">Commission on Aging and Retirement Education.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Health Department.</para>
      <para num="(3)">Department of Recreation and Parks.</para>
      <para num="(4)">Department of Planning.</para>
      <para num="(5)">Department of Housing and Community Development.</para>
      <para num="(6)">Department of Human Resources.</para>
      <para num="(7)">Department of Transportation.</para>
      <para num="(8)">Law Department.</para>
      <para num="(9)">Community Relations Commission.</para>
      <para num="(10)">Baltimore City Public School System.</para>
      <para num="(11)">Office of Employment Development.</para>
      <para num="(12)">Police Department.</para>
      <para num="(13)">Department of Social Services.</para>
      <para num="(14)">Fire Department.</para>
      <para num="(15)">Department of Transportation.</para>
      <para num="(16)">Enoch Pratt Free Library.</para>
      <para num="(17)">Office of Emergency Management.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §244(a) - (d)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 97-141</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord 04-822</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 08-033</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-435</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-5" heading="Terms, organization, etc.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Terms.">Members serve for a term of 4 years concurrent with the Mayor’s term of office.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Compensation.">Members and associates serve without compensation.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Vacancies.">
      <para num="(1)">At the end of a term, an appointed member serves until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</para>
      <para num="(2)">A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves out the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Meetings; quorum.">
      <para num="(1)">The Commission shall meet on the call of the Mayor or its Chair as frequently as required to perform its duties, but not less than 6 times a year.</para>
      <para num="(2)">A majority of the members of the Commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and an affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is sufficient for any official action.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Rules.">The Commission may adopt rules to govern its meetings and operations.</para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Failure to attend meetings.">Any member who is absent from more than 25% of the scheduled regular meetings, not counting absences excused by the Chair, during any 6-month period, shall be considered by the Mayor to have resigned and shall be so notified by the Commission.</para>
    <para num="(g)" heading="Officers.">
      <para num="(1)">The Mayor shall designate an appointed member, representing the membership category identified in § 23-4(a)(3)(i), as Chair of the Commission.</para>
      <para num="(2)">The Chair may select other officers.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(h)" heading="Committees.">The Chair of the Commission may appoint committees to carry out the functions and duties of the Commission.</para>
    <para num="(i)" heading="Invited participants.">Representatives of state agencies and other organizations that serve the interests of the disabled in Baltimore City may be invited by the Commission to participate in Commission meetings.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §244(e) - (m)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 97-141</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-526</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-6" heading="Duties.">
    <text>The Commission shall:</text>
    <para num="(1)">assist in the development of a transition plan for the City of Baltimore to address community access to facilities, open spaces, and communications, and advise the Mayor on the implementation of the plan by January 26, 1995;</para>
    <para num="(2)">assist in the identification and evaluation of all City programs and services that impact the major life activities of persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(3)">recommend modification of services or new services for persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(4)">research, assemble, analyze and disseminate pertinent data and educational materials relating to activities and programs which will assist in meeting the needs of persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(5)">work to eliminate discrimination of persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(6)">in consultation with the Division of Occupational Medicine and the Community Relations Commission, institute and conduct educational programs, meetings, and conferences designed to promote equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(7)">cooperate with interested citizens, general community, business, professional, technical, educational, and civic organizations in furthering the interests of persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(8)">work jointly with other jurisdictions on conducting similar activities;</para>
    <para num="(9)">work to remove inequalities due to unmet needs or discrimination on the basis of disability in the areas of housing, recreation, employment, education, community services, and related matters;</para>
    <para num="(10)">cooperate and collaborate with all municipal agencies, including the Division of Occupational Medicine and the Community Relations Commission, to avoid duplication of efforts;</para>
    <para num="(11)">provide information to the residents of the City, the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, and various offices of the city, state, and federal government on matters involving the needs of persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(12)">recommend programs or legislation as necessary to promote and insure equal rights and opportunities for all persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(13)">work to assure that information and referral needs are met and that information about City programs is disseminated;</para>
    <para num="(14)">hold a public forum at least yearly to give persons with disabilities an opportunity to voice their concerns;</para>
    <para num="(15)">work to assure the development of an effective delivery system of public, private, and consumer resources to all persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(16)">assist the Director of the Commission with regard to inquiries, complaints, and other problems with City services for persons with disabilities;</para>
    <para num="(17)">assist in the coordination of state and federal programs and services available to the City, business, and industry; and</para>
    <para num="(18)">provide other advice as requested by the Mayor, City Council, and municipal agencies.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §245</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-7" heading="Director; staff; budget.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Appointment of Director.">In consultation with the Commission, the Mayor shall appoint a Director of the Commission in accordance with &lt;cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6"&gt;Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Duties.">The Director shall perform duties as required by the Mayor to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.</para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Staff.">Staff may be employed in accordance with the Ordinance of Estimates.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Budget.">The Director may expend funds authorized in the Ordinance of Estimates or any supplemental appropriations.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §246</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="23-8" heading="Reports.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Annual report.">The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Mayor and City Council within 2 months of the end of the fiscal year.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Other reports.">The Commission shall submit reports on specific subjects at the request of the Mayor, City Council, or municipal agencies.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §247</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 93-237</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
