At any open session of the Procurement Improvement Council, the general public is invited to attend and observe. Except in instances when the Procurement Improvement Council expressly invites public testimony, questions, comments, or other forms of public participation, or when public participation is otherwise authorized by law, a member of the public attending an open session may not participate in the session. A person attending an open session of the Procurement Improvement Council may not engage in any conduct, including visual demonstrations such as the waving of placards, signs, or banners, that disrupts the sessions or that interferes with the right of members of the public to attend and observe the session. The presiding officer may order a person who persists in conduct prohibited by §A of this regulation, or who violates any other regulation concerning the conduct of the open session, to be removed from the session and may request police assistance to restore order. The presiding officer may recess the session while order is restored. A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may record discussions of the Procurement Improvement Council at an open session by means of a tape recorder or any other recording device if the device does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the Procurement Improvement Council or other persons attending the session. A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may photograph or videotape the proceedings of the Procurement Improvement Council at an open session by means of any type of camera if the camera: Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the Procurement Improvement Council or other persons attending the session; and Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the Procurement Improvement Council or other persons attending the session. A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of the Procurement Improvement Council at an open session if the equipment used: Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the Procurement Improvement Council or other persons attending the session; and Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the Procurement Improvement Council or other persons attending the session. The presiding officer may restrict the movement of a person who is using a recording device, camera, or broadcasting or televising equipment if the restriction is necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the session. A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, or any transcript derived from such a recording, may not be considered a part of the record of any proceeding of the Procurement Improvement Council. State Finance and Procurement Article, §§12-101 and 12-105; State Government Article, §10-507; Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: August 16, 1993 (20:16 Md. R. 1279) Regulation .01 amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643) Regulation .02A amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643) Regulation .03 amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643) Regulation .04 amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 643)