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<section number="10-331" name="Fair Election Fund Commission" law="code" slug="sec-10-331" node_id="PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_10FITA_DIV26FAELFU_S10-331FAELFUCO">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Fair Election Fund Commission consists of seven (7) members. The County Council shall nominate five (5) members of the Commission, ensuring that the nominees reflect political and geographic diversity. At least one (1) member shall represent an organization focused on government reform. The County Executive shall nominate two (2) members of the Commission. Each nominee shall be confirmed by the County Council.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Qualifications.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each member of the Commission shall be a resident of the County.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A member of the Commission shall not be a candidate for public office during the previous, current, or next election cycle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A member shall not be a lobbyist registered with the County or State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A member shall not be the Chair or Treasurer for an open campaign account.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A member shall be a registered voter.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Term; vacancies.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The term of a member of the Commission is four (4) years and begins on May 1. The term of a member of the Commission nominated by the County Executive begins during the first year of a County Council term. The term of a member of the Commission nominated by a member of the County Council begins during the third year of a County Council term.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment and for the unexpired term.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Subsection, to create staggered terms, the terms of the initial members of the Commission who are nominated by the County Council shall be six (6) years and shall begin on May 1, 2019.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Officers. The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Compensation; expenses. A member of the Commission shall not receive compensation for service on the Commission except reasonable and necessary expenses as may be provided in the budget.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Duties.</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Commission shall issue a report to the Council on or before March 1 of each year estimating the funds necessary to implement the public campaign finance system and recommending an appropriation to the Fair Election Fund for the following fiscal year.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as otherwise specified, the Commission shall administer this Division and ensure the funds are distributed on an equitable basis.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Commission shall meet:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>at least once every ninety (90) days during the twelve (12) months preceding a primary election; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>at least twice a year otherwise.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Staff. The Office of Finance shall provide staff support for the Commission to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>work with the State Board of Elections to administer the system; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>provide information about the system to candidates and the public.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
