Chapter 06. Open Meetings
Regulation .01 Definition.LinkCopy Citation
“Public body” means the Capital Debt Affordability Committee established by State Finance and Procurement Article, §8-108, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Commission on State Debt established by Executive Order 01.01.1980.06, or any other public body as defined by State Government Article, §10-502, Annotated Code of Maryland, of which the State Treasurer from time to time is a member and serves as its chairman.
Regulation .02 Public Attendance.LinkCopy Citation
A.
At any open session of the public body, the general public is invited to attend and observe.
B.
Except in instances when the public body 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.
Regulation .03 Disruptive Conduct.LinkCopy Citation
A.
An individual attending an open session of the public body may not engage in any conduct, including visual demonstrations such as the 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.
B.
The presiding officer may order an individual 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.
C.
The presiding officer may recess the session while order is restored.
Regulation .04 Recording, Photographing, and Broadcasting of Open Sessions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may record discussions of the public body 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 public body or other individuals attending the session.
B.
A member of the public, including any representative of the news media, may photograph or videotape the proceedings of the public body at an open session by means of any type of camera if the camera:
(1)
Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the public body or other individuals attending the session; and
(2)
Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the public body or other individuals attending the session.
C.
A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of the public body at an open session if the equipment used:
(1)
Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the public body or other individuals attending the session; and
(2)
Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the public body or other individuals attending the session.
D.
The presiding officer may restrict the movement of an individual 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.
Regulation .05 Recordings Not Part of Record.LinkCopy Citation
A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, or any transcript derived from a recording, is not considered a part of the record of any proceeding of the public body.
Chapter annotations
Authority: State Government Article, §10-507, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: November 8, 1993 (20:22 Md. R. 1709)