<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-101" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Alternative dispute resolution” includes mediation.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Commission” means the St. Mary’s County Human Relations Commission.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-102" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>By ordinance or resolution, the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may establish a Human Relations Commission for the county.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The purposes of the Commission are to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>promote understanding and harmony of relationship among the people of the county through the study of the nature and causes of social friction and prejudice;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>advance the means for the alleviation of social friction and prejudice; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>further the American ideal of equality and justice.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-103" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>determine the size of the Commission;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>appoint the members of the Commission; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>ensure that the membership of the Commission reflects the diversity of the people of the county.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The term of a member is 4 years.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The terms of the members shall be staggered in a manner determined by the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-104" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>From among its members, the Commission shall select a chair and a vice chair of the Commission.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The terms of the chair and vice chair are 1 year.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A member may not serve as the chair or vice chair for more than two consecutive terms.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-105" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A member of the Commission may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County may appropriate money for the administrative support of the Commission.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-106" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Commission may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>provide advice and assistance related to the filing and processing of grievances and complaints of discrimination with the appropriate federal and State agencies;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>educate the community on the rights and responsibilities of people relating to housing, employment, and public accommodations;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>advocate for the removal of all vestiges of discrimination; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>assist in nonbinding alternative dispute resolution.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Commission shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>use its influence and persuasion to direct the efforts of the community to solving problems that many times are the basic reasons for racial tensions; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>encourage and ensure equal treatment of all people, without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, marital status, or physical or mental disability, in compliance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations related to housing, employment, and public accommodations.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-107" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A person seeking an alternative dispute resolution under this title shall file a written request for alternative dispute resolution within 6 months after the date of the incident giving rise to the request.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>A person who satisfies the time requirements under subsection (a) of this section is deemed to have complied with the requirements of § 20–1004 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The Commission may provide a copy of a written request filed under subsection (a) of this section to the Maryland Commission on Human Relations to verify the compliance of a party with the requirements of § 20–1004 of the State Government Article.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-108" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>This section supersedes any contrary provision of the Public Information Act and the St. Mary’s County Open Meetings Act.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection:</text> <level label="i"> <text>all activities of the Commission that relate to an alternative dispute resolution, a grievance, or a complaint of discrimination shall be conducted in confidence and without publicity; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the Commission may meet in closed session when dealing with an alternative dispute resolution, a grievance, or a complaint of discrimination.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If all parties involved in an alternative dispute resolution, a grievance, or a complaint of discrimination consent in writing, the activities of the Commission related to the alternative dispute resolution, grievance, or complaint of discrimination may be conducted publicly.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Except as provided under § 29–107 of this title, the Commission shall hold confidential all information concerning an alternative dispute resolution, a grievance, or a complaint of discrimination, including the identities of the parties involved.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The Commission shall hold confidential any information and records obtained by a predecessor county body that was authorized to perform a function similar to that of the Commission before July 1, 1997.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Information related to the activities or involvement of the Commission in an alternative dispute resolution, a grievance, or a complaint of discrimination may not be admitted as evidence in any administrative proceeding or litigation.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The records of the Commission may not be discovered in any administrative proceeding or litigation.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided under § 29–107 of this title and paragraph (2) of this subsection, information or records related to the activities or involvement of the Commission in an alternative dispute resolution, a grievance, or a complaint of discrimination are not subject to public inspection under the Maryland Public Information Act.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Statistical information may be made available for public inspection under § 4–501(e) of the General Provisions Article.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="29-109" title_number="29" title_name="St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Commission shall file with the County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County a comprehensive report of its activities at least once every 12 months.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Commission may not reveal any confidential information in the report to the county commissioners.</text> </level> </section>