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<chapter num="01" heading="Open Meetings" title_num="33" subtitle_num="02">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Board Defined; Application to Local Boards.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following term has the meaning indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Term Defined. “Board” means:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The State Board; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Any local board that has not adopted its own regulations under State Government Article, §10-507(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Public Attendance and Observance Allowed.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>At any open session of a board, the general public is invited to attend and observe.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The board shall meet in a location that is accessible to individuals who would like to attend and observe an open session of a board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Public Participation Limited.">
    <text>A member of the public attending an open session may not participate in the session except to the extent:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>The board expressly invites public testimony, questions, comments, or other forms of public participation; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A person is entitled by law to participate.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Disruptive Conduct Prohibited.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In General. An individual attending an open session of a board may not engage in any conduct, including visual demonstrations such as the waving of placards, signs, or banners, that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Disrupts the session; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Interferes with the right of the public to attend and observe the session.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Enforcement. If an individual persists in conduct prohibited by §A of this regulation or violates any other regulation concerning the conduct of the open session, the presiding officer may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Order the individual to be removed from the session;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Request police assistance to restore order; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Recess the session while order is restored.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Recording, Photographing, or Broadcasting.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Recording Open Session. A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may record the proceedings of an open session by means of a tape recorder or any other recording device if the device does not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Create an excessive noise that disturbs board members or other individuals attending the session; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Otherwise:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Disrupt the session, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Interfere with the right of the public to attend and observe the session.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Photographing or Taping Session. A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may photograph or videotape the proceedings of an open session by means of any type of camera if the camera:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs board members or other individuals attending the session;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs board members or other individuals attending the session; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Does not otherwise:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Disrupt the session, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Interfere with the right of the public to attend and observe the session.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Broadcasting Session. A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of an open session if the equipment used:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs board members or other individuals attending the session;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs board members or other individuals attending the session; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Does not otherwise:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Disrupt the session, or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Interfere with the right of the public to attend and observe the session.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Restriction of Movement.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Whenever necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the session, the presiding officer may restrict the movement of the individual who is using a recording device, a camera, or broadcasting or televising equipment.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>If the individual refuses to comply or otherwise persists in conduct prohibited by this regulation or any other regulation concerning the conduct of the open session, the presiding officer may take action as authorized in Regulation .04B of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Recordings Not Part of Record.">
    <text>A recording of an open session made by a member of the public, or any transcript derived from that recording, is not a part of the record of any proceeding of the board.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Election Law Article, §§2-102(b)(4) and 2-202(b); State Government Article, §10-507(b); Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulations .01—.06 adopted as an emergency provision effective February 1, 2000 (27:5 Md. R. 579); adopted permanently effective April 17, 2000 (27:7 Md. R. 707)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02 amended as an emergency provision effective July 23, 2008 (35:17 Md. R. 1483); amended permanently effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>