Chapter 02. Open Meetings Attendance and Recording, Photographing, and Broadcasting of Sessions
Regulation .01 Definition.LinkCopy Citation
“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the State Retirement and Pension System, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the State Retirement and Pension System, the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees of the State Retirement and Pension System, and any other committee of the Board of Trustees that is a public body as defined in State Government Article, §10-502(h), Annotated Code of Maryland.
Regulation .02 Public Attendance.LinkCopy Citation
A.
The general public may attend and observe an open session of the Board.
B.
Except in instances when the Board 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 of the Board may not participate in the session.
Regulation .03 Disruptive Conduct.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Prohibition. An individual attending an open session of the Board may not engage in any conduct, including a visual demonstration such as the waving of placard, sign, or banner, that disrupts the session or that interferes with the right of a member of the public to attend and observe the session.
B.
Action to Restore Order. The presiding officer may:
(1)
Order an individual who engages in conduct prohibited by §A of this regulation, or who violates any other regulation concerning the conduct of an open session, to be removed from the session;
(2)
Request police assistance to restore order; and
(3)
Recess the session while order is restored.
Regulation .04 Recording, Photographing, Videotaping, Broadcasting, and Televising of Open Sessions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may record an open session of the Board by means of a tape recorder or another recording device, if the:
(1)
Device does not create an excessive noise that interferes with the participation in a session by a member of the Board or the observation of the session by a member of the public;
(2)
Device does not otherwise interfere with an individual's observation of or participation in the session; and
(3)
Recording is done openly so that it is obvious to those in attendance that the session is being recorded.
B.
A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may photograph or videotape the proceedings of the Board at an open session by means of a camera if the camera:
(1)
Is operated without excessively bright artificial light or excessive noise that interferes with the participation of a member of the Board in the session or the observation of the session by a member of the public;
(2)
Does not otherwise interfere with an individual's observation of or participation in the session; and
(3)
Is used openly so that it is obvious to those in attendance that the session is being recorded.
C.
A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of the Board at an open session if the equipment used:
(1)
Is operated without excessively bright artificial light or excessive noise that interferes with the participation of a member of the Board in the session or the observation of the session by a member of the public;
(2)
Does not otherwise interfere with an individual's observation of or participation in the session; and
(3)
Is used openly so that it is obvious to those in attendance that the session is being broadcast or televised.
D.
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.
E.
The Board may require that an individual who intends to record, photograph, videotape, broadcast, or televise an open session, register in advance of the beginning of the meeting.
Regulation .05 Recordings Not Part of the Record.LinkCopy Citation
A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, or a transcript derived from the recording, is not a part of the record of a proceeding of the Board.
Chapter annotations
Authority: State Government Article, §10-507(b); State Personnel and Pensions Article, §21-110; Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: January 1, 1996 (22:26 Md. R. 2031)
History: Effective January 1, 1996, all of Title 22 was repealed and completely new regulations adopted. Codification and organization of the title were also completely changed. Consequently, the administrative histories of the revised Title 22 do not reflect regulatory activity before January 1, 1996. Refer to the old version of Title 22 or contact the Maryland State Archives for assistance.