<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 07.05.01.07" title_num="07" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="01" heading="Agency Governing Board.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Legal Status of Agency. The agency shall be incorporated under applicable law and maintain documents that identify its incorporation and administrative structure and staffing, including lines of authority.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Governance. The agency shall have a governing board that has final responsibility for and authority over the policies, finances, and all related activities for implementing the agency's program. The governing board shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Screen and select the agency's chief administrator in accordance with agency policy and Regulations .09, .14, and .15 of this chapter;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Define in writing the role of the chief administrator;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Require the chief administrator, or the chief administrator's designee authorized to act in the chief administrator's absence, to be accessible at all times to the agency staff and representatives of OLM;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Conduct an annual written evaluation of the chief administrator;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Ensure that the agency is housed, maintained, staffed, equipped, and funded to operate the programs effectively and solvently;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Consult with OLM and receive its approval before requesting a change in the type of license under which the agency currently operates;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Notify OLM of any change in:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Chief administrator at least 48 hours in advance; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The address or phone number of the agency office at least 14 days before the change;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Be responsible for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The fiscal soundness of the agency operation and undertake the review and approval of the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Agency's annual budget,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Periodic accounting reports, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Annual audit or audit review completed by an independent certified public accountant; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Maintaining the agency's continual compliance with the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Provisions of the agency's charter,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Terms of all leases, contracts, or legal agreements to which the agency is a party, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Relevant federal, State, and local laws and regulations governing the operation of the agency.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Composition and Organization of the Governing Board.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The responsibilities of the governing board of the agency shall be clearly defined in the agency bylaws.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The governing board shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be structured with a president elected from the governing board membership who presides at meetings to enable the governing board to discharge the responsibilities described in this regulation and Regulations .06, .08—.16, and any other applicable regulations of this chapter;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Adopt bylaws for its operation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Maintain written minutes of and records of attendance at all its meetings;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Ensure that a quorum of its members meet at least quarterly;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Include members, at least three of whom are Maryland residents;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Maintain a list of its membership with each member's:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Phone number,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Address, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Term of membership; and</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Have a plan for periodic change of the board's composition.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Agency employees, including the chief administrator, may not be voting members of the governing board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An employee of any government organization which regulates or purchases services from the agency may not be a member of the governing board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Members of the governing board may not contract with the agency to provide goods or services in return for money, goods, or services or in any other way benefit financially from the agency's operation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>The governing board of an agency applying for licensure or licensure renewal shall furnish references on its members in accordance with the requirements in Regulation .09 of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>