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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-503" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation shall be governed and administered by a board of trustees composed of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Comptroller, the Secretary of Planning, and the Secretary, all of whom shall serve as ex officio members;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Nine members from the State at–large to be appointed by the Governor, at least six of whom shall be farmer representatives who are engaged in or retired from active farming from different areas of the State, and four of whom shall be appointed as follows:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>One from a list of three nominees submitted by the Maryland Agricultural Commission;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>One from a list of three nominees submitted by the Maryland Farm Bureau;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>One from a list of three nominees submitted by the Maryland State Grange; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>One from a list of three nominees submitted by the Committee on Young Farmers; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Any designee appointed by an ex officio member under paragraph (3) of this subsection.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Nominees under paragraph (1)(ii)4 of this subsection shall meet the requirements of § 2–1002(d) of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Each ex officio member of the board of trustees may appoint a designee to serve in the member’s place on the board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Governor shall appoint the chairman of the board, from among the nine at–large trustees.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A majority of the members of the board serving at any one time constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 5–502 through 5–504 of the General Provisions Article, a person may be appointed to and serve on the board as an at–large member even if prior to the appointment the person sold an easement in the person’s agricultural land to the Foundation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The term of any trustee at–large serving on the board shall expire on July 1, 1977. The Governor then shall appoint trustees at–large for the following terms:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Three for a term of four years;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Three for a term of three years; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Three for a term of two years.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In appointing members at–large to replace members whose terms expire on July 1, 1977, the Governor may appoint members serving as of July 1, 1977. Thereafter, successors to trustees at–large whose terms expire shall be appointed for terms of four years. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. A trustee at–large may not serve more than two successive terms. Appointment to fill a vacancy may not be considered as one of two terms.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Trustees at–large shall take the oath of office as prescribed by law.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Compensation may not be paid to any trustee. Each trustee shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties on behalf of the Foundation.</text>
  </level>
</section>
