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<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="11-202" title_number="11" title_name="Horse Racing" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Racing Commission">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Commission consists of 9 members, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>At the time of appointment and qualification:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>each member shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>at least 25 years old;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a resident of the State who has resided in the State for at least the last 5 years;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a qualified voter of the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>an individual who has not been convicted of a crime that involves moral turpitude;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>at least 3 members of the Commission shall be knowledgeable or experienced in an aspect of thoroughbred racing; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>at least 3 other members shall be knowledgeable or experienced in an aspect of harness racing.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A member of the Commission may not hold an official relation to a licensee or hold any stocks, bonds, or other financial interest in a licensee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Not more than 4 members who are appointed after July 1, 1989, may have a financial interest in racing in the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Not more than 6 members may be of the same political party.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Before taking office, each appointee to the Commission shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The term of a member of the Commission is 4 years and begins on July 1.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Commission on October 1, 1992.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the hearing requirements of subsection (g) of this section, the Governor, with the advice of the Secretary, may remove a member of the Commission for inefficiency, misconduct in office, or neglect of duty.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a member shall be considered to have resigned if the member did not attend at least two–thirds of the Board meetings held during any consecutive 12–month period while the member was serving on the Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Governor may waive a member’s resignation and allow the member to continue serving if the member has been unable to attend meetings for reasons satisfactory to the Governor and the reasons are made public.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>In accordance with § 8–501 of the State Government Article, the chairman shall provide notice to the Governor and the Governor shall appoint a successor.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Before the Governor removes a member, the Governor shall give the member an opportunity for a public hearing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>At least 10 days before the hearing, the Governor shall give the member:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a copy of the charges; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>notice of the time and place of the hearing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The member may be represented at the hearing by counsel.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>If the Governor removes a member, the Governor shall submit to the Secretary of State:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a statement of all charges made against the member;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the findings of the Governor; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a record of the proceedings.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
