<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="05" heading="Open Meetings" title_num="14" subtitle_num="25">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Public Attendance.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The general public is invited to attend and observe an open session of the Authority.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A member of the public attending an open session may not participate in the session, except when:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The Authority expressly invites public testimony, questions, comments, or other forms of public participation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Public participation is otherwise authorized by law.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Disruptive Conduct.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An individual attending an open session of the Authority may not engage in any conduct, including visual demonstrations such as waving of placards, signs, or banners, that disrupts the session or that interferes with the right of members of the public to attend and observe the session.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Restoring Order. The presiding officer may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Order an individual who persists in conduct prohibited by §A of this regulation, or who has violated any other regulation concerning the conduct of the open session, to be removed from the session, and may request police assistance to restore order; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Recess the session while order is restored.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Recording, Photographing, and Broadcasting of Open Sessions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Record discussions of the Authority at an open session using a tape recorder or other recording device if the device does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the Authority or other individuals attending the session; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Photograph or videotape the proceedings of the Authority at an open session, using any type of camera, if the camera is operated without excessively bright artificial light or excessive noise that disturbs members of the Authority or other individuals attending the session.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of the Authority at an open session if the equipment is operated without excessively bright artificial light or excessive noise that disturbs members of the Authority or other individuals attending the session.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>The presiding officer may restrict the movement of an individual who is using a recording device, camera, or broadcasting or television equipment if the restriction is necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the session.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Recordings Not Part of Record.">
    <text>A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, or a transcript derived from this recording, is not a part of the record of a proceeding of the Authority.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Financial Institutions Article, §13-708, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: April 12, 1993 (20:7 Md. R. 642)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>