<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 14.31.06.04" title_num="14" subtitle_num="31" chapter_num="06" heading="Governance.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Legal Status. The licensee shall be incorporated under applicable law and maintain documents which identify its incorporation and administrative structure and staffing, including lines of authority.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Governance. The corporation shall have by-laws which describe the Board’s legal responsibility for and authority over the policies, finances, and all related activities for implementing the program in accordance with Human Services Article, §8-806. The Board shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Ensure that the corporation does not discriminate on the basis of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Race;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Color;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>National origin;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Religion;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Creed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Age;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Sex;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Sexual orientation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>Marital status;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Ancestry; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>Physical or mental disability;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Screen and select the organization’s chief administrator in accordance with corporate policy;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Define in writing the role of the chief administrator;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Require the chief administrator, or appropriate designee authorized to act in the chief administrator's absence, to be accessible at all times to the agency staff and representatives of the Administration;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Conduct an annual written evaluation of the chief administrator;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Ensure that the program is housed, maintained, staffed, equipped, and funded to operate the programs effectively and solvently;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Consult with the Administration and receive its approval before making a substantive change to the service program plan described in the current license application;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Notify the Administration of any change of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The chief administrator within 48 hours; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Address or phone number of the program office at least 14 days before the change;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>At least every 2 years, in consultation with the chief administrator, formulate, review, and revise as necessary the program’s written materials concerning:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Current program and service policy, including short-term and long-term goals;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Personnel practices and job descriptions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Fiscal management policy;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The program evaluation report; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Be responsible for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The fiscal soundness of the program operation and undertake the review and approval of the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Program’s annual budget;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Periodic accounting report; 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 licensee’s continual compliance with the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Provisions of the corporation's charter;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Terms of all leases, contracts, or legal agreements to which the licensee is a party; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Relevant federal, State, and local laws and regulations governing the operation of the licensee.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Advisory Board.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a licensee is an out-of-State corporation, it shall have an advisory board consisting of at least 3 Maryland residents, at least one of whom shall be a member of the board of directors.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The advisory board shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Meet at least quarterly;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Provide input to the licensee regarding the operation of the program and compliance with these regulations;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Assist the licensee with its relations with the surrounding community;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Meet the requirements of §D(2) and (3) of this regulation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Perform such other duties as the licensee shall request.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Composition and Organization of the Board.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Board shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be structured with a president or chair elected from the Board membership who presides at meetings to enable the Board to discharge its responsibilities;</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 at least five members:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>At least one of whom is a Maryland resident;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>At least one of whom shall have demonstrated experience in or knowledge of the human services field; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>At least one of whom shall have demonstrated knowledge in the field of accounting, business, or financial management;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </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="(2)">
      <text>An individual who has been convicted of, or who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a charge of child abuse or neglect or contributing to the delinquency of a minor may not be or become a member of the Board or of an advisory board of the corporation or program.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An employee of the corporation or program or an immediate family member of an employee of the corporation or the program may not be a voting member of the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An individual who is compensated for providing goods or services to the corporation or program may not be a member of the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>No member of the Board may be a staff person employed by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The Governor’s Office for Children;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A licensing agency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Local departments of social services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A placement agency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>The State Department of Education; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Any governmental organization which regulates or purchases from the program.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Each member of the Board shall complete a training course on the duties and responsibilities of Board members that is offered by the State or approved by the Office within 3 months of appointment to the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Chief Financial Officer.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Board shall have a chief financial officer for the corporation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The chief financial officer shall provide a report at least quarterly to the Board on the financial condition of the corporation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>