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<section article="gec" article_name="Economic Development" number="10-505" title_number="10" title_name="Statewide Development Resources and Revenue Authorities" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is a Board of Directors of the Corporation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Board manages the Corporation and exercises all of its corporate powers.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Board consists of the following members:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>as ex officio members:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary who is a senior-level departmental official;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of the Secretary who is a senior-level departmental official;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the Secretary of Natural Resources or a designee of the Secretary who is a senior-level departmental official;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the Executive Director of the Maryland Food Center Authority;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the Executive Director of the Rural Maryland Council; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>the Director of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>eleven individuals appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>two agricultural producers representing at least two different farm commodity industries in the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>two representatives from commercial lending institutions serving rural regions in the State, one of whom shall represent a major farm credit organization operating in the State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>one representative of the timber and forest products industry;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>one representative of the aquaculture industry;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>one representative of the commercial seafood harvesting and processing industry;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>one individual with knowledge and experience in the area of operating commercial food or fiber processing facilities;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>one individual with knowledge and experience in the area of public finance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>one individual with knowledge and experience in the area of rural economic development or agricultural marketing; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>one individual with knowledge about the agricultural, forestry, or seafood industries or agritourism in the State or with substantial and relevant economic development experience.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A member of the Board shall be a resident of the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>In appointing members of the Board under subsection (b)(2) of this section, the Governor shall consider all of the geographic regions of the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The term of a member appointed under subsection (b)(2) of this section is 4 years.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for the members on October 1, 2008.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>At the end of a term, an appointed 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">
    <text>The Governor may remove a member of the Board for incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Board shall elect a chair from among its members.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Board may act with an affirmative vote of nine members.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>A member of the Board:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>serves without compensation as a member of the Board; but</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
