There is a Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area. The Committee consists of 10 members. Of the 10 members: 5 shall be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; and 5 shall be members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House. The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. The President and the Speaker shall jointly appoint a Senator and a Delegate each to serve as cochairs. The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance to the Committee. The Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays shall meet with the Committee periodically as the Committee requests to review development and implementation of the criteria for program development. The Committee may study and make recommendations to the Legislative Policy Committee on any other area of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program the Committee considers appropriate. The Committee shall meet with the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, representatives of counties and municipalities having land within the critical areas, and any other interested parties to study and determine: whether adequate flexibility exists under the current criteria to meet the special characteristics and needs of the individual counties and municipalities having land within the critical areas; whether the current timetable for review of approved local critical area protection programs is adequate to meet the special characteristics and needs of the individual counties and municipalities having land within the critical areas; and whether the criteria need to be strengthened in any area so as to make the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area Protection Program more effective in the protection of the water quality and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Committee shall study and determine the appropriate future role of the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, including: whether the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays should remain an autonomous organization or be incorporated into an existing executive agency; how long the current oversight role of the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays should continue; and whether the current appeal process is the most effective appeal process to meet the goals of the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area protection law.

There is a Joint Committee on Workers’ Compensation Benefit and Insurance Oversight. The Committee consists of 16 members. Of the 16 members: 2 shall be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; and 2 shall be Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and 12 shall be appointed jointly by the President and the Speaker as follows: 1 representative of the business community; 1 representative of the Maryland labor organizations; 1 representative of the Maryland building and construction labor organizations; 1 representative of a self–insured local government entity; 2 members of the public; 1 member of the insurance industry; 1 member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland; 1 member of a workers’ compensation rating organization; 2 members of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Maryland, 1 of whom represents plaintiffs in workers’ compensation cases and 1 of whom represents defendants in workers’ compensation cases; and 1 member who is certified by the Workers’ Compensation Commission as a Maryland rehabilitation service provider. The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. The President and the Speaker shall jointly appoint a Senator and a Delegate each to serve as cochair. The Committee shall examine and evaluate: the condition of the workers’ compensation benefit and insurance structure in the State; and the effect of Chapters 590 and 591 of the Laws of Maryland of 1987 on that structure. This examination shall include the regulations adopted by the Workers’ Compensation Commission that are to be used by physicians to measure impairment when preparing medical evaluations of claimants. The Insurance Commissioner and the Workers’ Compensation Commission shall: cooperate fully with the Committee; keep the Committee fully informed as to the condition of workers’ compensation benefits and workers’ compensation insurance in the State; and submit an annual report, subject to § 2–1257 of this title, to the Committee on or before October 1 of each year that incorporates the information described in item (2) of this subsection. The Committee shall report to the Governor and the Legislative Policy Committee on December 31 of each year.

In this section, “conditions of well–being” means the desired results identified by the Maryland Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families based upon identified needs and used to improve quality. There is a Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. The Committee consists of the following 20 members: from the Senate: the majority leader; the minority leader; and two members from each of the four standing committees; and from the House: the majority leader; the minority leader; and eight other Delegates appointed by the Speaker from among the members of the House committees that deal with issues affecting children, youth, and families. Members of the Committee shall be appointed on the basis of demonstrated ability and interest concerning issues affecting children, youth, and families. In making appointments, the President and the Speaker shall provide for representation from: the committees that deal with issues affecting children, youth, and families; and the major areas of the State. A member appointed by the President serves at the pleasure of the President. A member appointed by the Speaker serves at the pleasure of the Speaker. If a vacancy occurs among the Senators on the Committee, a successor promptly shall be appointed by the President. If a vacancy occurs among the Delegates on the Committee, a successor promptly shall be appointed by the Speaker. From among the membership of the Committee, the President shall appoint a Senator to serve as the Senate chair of the Committee and the Speaker shall appoint a Delegate to serve as the House chair of the Committee. The Senate chair and the House chair shall alternate annually as presiding chair and cochair of the Committee. A majority of the full authorized membership of the Committee is a quorum. The Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis, shall provide staff assistance to the Committee. The Committee shall hold: an organizational meeting promptly after the appointment of its members; and any other meetings that the Committee considers necessary to carry out its duties efficiently. The Committee may: hold a hearing on any matter relating to the functions of the Committee; and consider a vote on a bill or resolution referred to it by the President or the Speaker. In addition to any powers and duties set forth elsewhere, in an endeavor to achieve conditions of well–being for Maryland children, youth, and families, the Committee shall: investigate the problems that jeopardize the well–being of Maryland children, youth, and families; identify State policies and actions that, in conjunction with public and private partners and in support of families and communities, can work to achieve conditions of well–being for Maryland children, youth, and families; review and make recommendations to align State statutes, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities with the State policies and actions described in item (2) of this subsection; search for any interdepartmental gaps, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies in the implementation or attainment of the State policies and actions described in item (2) of this subsection; identify any new laws, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities that are needed to ensure and promote desired conditions of well–being for Maryland children, youth, and families; serve as an informational resource for the Senate and the House on legislative policy matters concerning children, youth, and families; and perform other activities, including improving public awareness of the special needs of Maryland children, youth, and families. Subject to § 2–1257 of this title, the Committee shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly on or before December 1 of each year. The report shall include: a description of the work of the Committee; and any recommendations of the Committee.

There is a Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight. The Joint Committee consists of eight members. Of the eight members: four shall be members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; and four shall be members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House. The members of the Joint Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. The President and the Speaker jointly shall appoint a Senator and a Delegate to serve as cochairs. The Joint Committee shall have oversight over: employment policies and personnel systems in the Executive Branch of State government, including: the State Personnel Management System; the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Human Resources Management System; and the personnel systems of State institutions of higher education; and matters in State government of equal employment opportunity policies and practices for State employees. The purposes of the Joint Committee are to: review reports; evaluate the effectiveness of programs, policies, and practices; and identify areas of concern and, as appropriate, recommend corrective measures to the Governor and the General Assembly.

There is a Joint Committee on Unemployment Insurance Oversight. The Committee consists of the following 15 members: three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; three members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; a representative of the Maryland Retailers Association, designated by the Maryland Retailers Association; a representative of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, designated by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce; a representative of the National Federation of Independent Business, designated by the National Federation of Independent Business; a representative of the Job Opportunities Task Force, designated by the Job Opportunities Task Force; two representatives of union labor, designated by the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL–CIO; and a representative of the academic profession who is knowledgeable in unemployment insurance law, designated jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates. The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. The President and the Speaker shall appoint a Senator and a Delegate, respectively, each to serve as cochair. The Committee shall examine the condition of the unemployment insurance system in the State as a result of the implementation of Chapter 169 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2005. The Committee may examine the need for additional alterations to the unemployment insurance system, including the charging and taxation provisions and the eligibility and benefit provisions, in consideration of the fairness of the system and in order to maintain the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund at a level sufficient to ensure that benefits will be paid from the Fund. The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staffing for the Committee. The Maryland Department of Labor shall report to the Committee on the condition of unemployment insurance in the State. A member of the Committee may not receive compensation for serving on the Committee, but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of this title, the General Assembly on December 31 of each year in which the Committee meets.

There is a Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Biotechnology. The Committee consists of the following 12 members: six members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate; and six members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House. The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. The President and the Speaker shall appoint jointly a Senator and a Delegate to serve as cochairs who shall alternate in serving as the presiding chair of the Committee each year. The Committee shall: work to broaden the support, knowledge, and awareness of advances in cybersecurity, information technology, and biotechnology to benefit the people of Maryland; evaluate State cybersecurity systems and the adequacy of economic development and job skills training programs to advance cybersecurity in the State; make recommendations regarding actions to promote cybersecurity, information technology, and biotechnology industries in the State; and examine and evaluate additional cybersecurity–, information technology–, or biotechnology–related issues as designated by the cochairs of the Committee. The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this title, the Legislative Policy Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Economic Matters Committee on or before December 31 of each year.

There is a Joint Committee on Legislative Information Technology and Open Government. The Committee consists of 12 members. Of the 12 members: 6 shall be members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate; and 6 shall be members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House. From among the membership of the Committee, the President of the Senate shall appoint a Senator to serve as the Senate Chair of the Committee, and the Speaker of the House shall appoint a Delegate to serve as the House Chair of the Committee. The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance to the Committee. The Committee shall: review and evaluate legislative information technology systems and goals for the General Assembly and its staff agencies; identify areas in which the State can improve its technology, websites, programs, and services to increase transparency, citizen engagement, and public awareness of and access to government resources, publications, and actions; evaluate the effects of transparency and open government policies and actions on the security of State information technology systems and information held by State units; make recommendations regarding: legislative information technology systems and goals for the General Assembly and its staff agencies; policies or actions to enhance the security of State information technology systems and information held by State units; and laws, programs, services, or budgetary priorities necessary to ensure and promote transparency and open government in the State; and perform any other activity related to legislative information technology systems or open government as designated by the cochairs of the Committee. Subject to § 2–1257 of this title, the Committee shall submit a report to the Legislative Policy Committee on or before December 1 each year. The report shall include: a description of the work of the Committee; and any recommendations of the Committee.

There is a Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness. The Committee consists of 16 members. Of the 16 members: eight shall be members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate; and eight shall be members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House. The members of the Committee serve at the pleasure of the presiding officer who appointed them. If a vacancy occurs among the Senators on the Committee, a successor promptly shall be appointed by the President of the Senate. If a vacancy occurs among the Delegates on the Committee, a successor promptly shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House. From among the membership of the Committee, the President of the Senate shall appoint a Senator to serve as the Senate Chair of the Committee, and the Speaker of the House shall appoint a Delegate to serve as the House Chair of the Committee. A majority of the full authorized membership of the Committee is a quorum. The Department of Legislative Services shall provide staff assistance to the Committee. The Committee shall hold: an organizational meeting promptly after the appointment of its members; and any other meetings that the Committee considers necessary to carry out its duties efficiently. The Committee may: hold a hearing on any matter relating to the functions of the Committee; and consider a vote on a bill or resolution referred to the Committee by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House. To ensure that public resources, programs, and policies are coordinated and effective in preventing, mitigating the effects of, and ending homelessness in Maryland, the Committee shall: study issues relating to homelessness, including: housing; income; health care; education; government supports; and veterans experiencing homelessness; consult with governmental agencies, community–based organizations, and other stakeholders to identify State policies, programs, and actions that should or could prevent, mitigate the effects of, and end homelessness in Maryland; review and make recommendations to align State statutes, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities with the State policies and actions described in item (2) of this subsection; search for any intradepartmental or interdepartmental gaps, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies in the implementation or attainment of the State policies, programs, and actions described in item (2) of this subsection; and identify new laws, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities that are needed to prevent, mitigate the effects of, and end homelessness in Maryland. The Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness shall: cooperate fully with the Committee; keep the Committee fully informed as to its priorities and progress; and submit an annual report, subject to § 2–1257 of this title, to the Committee on or before December 15 of each year that includes: a description of the Council’s work; a report on the Council’s priorities and progress; and recommendations for new laws, regulations, programs, services, and budgetary priorities that are needed to prevent, mitigate the effects of, and end homelessness in Maryland. Subject to § 2–1257 of this title, the Committee shall submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 1 each year. The report shall include: a description of the work of the Committee; and any recommendations of the Committee.