<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="5-9A-08" title_number="5" title_name="Forests and Parks" subtitle_number="9A" subtitle_name="Rural Legacy Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is an Advisory Committee to the Board in the Department of Natural Resources.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Committee is established to review applications for Rural Legacy Areas, make recommendations for Rural Legacy Area designations to the Board, and consider such other matters as requested by the Board.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Committee has 11 members as follows:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A trustee of the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A trustee of the Maryland Environmental Trust;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A representative of the agriculture industry;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>A representative of a nonprofit land conservation organization;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A representative of a nonprofit environmental organization;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>A representative of the forest industry;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>A representative of a county government department of parks and recreation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>A representative of a business organization;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>A private land owner;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>A representative of the mineral resources industry; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>A representative of a municipal corporation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Committee members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Committee on July 1, 1997.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Governor shall solicit nominees from industries and groups which are represented on the Committee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The members shall represent geographically and ethnically diverse areas.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The term of membership is 3 years.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person may not serve more than two consecutive terms.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the Committee.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Planning, shall provide staff support for the Committee.</text>
  </level>
</section>
