General. A Statewide biennial meeting shall be held, as provided in Election Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, to instruct local board members, election directors, counsel to local boards, and others on the proper conduct of elections. Mandatory Attendees. Unless excused as provided in this regulation, each of the following is required to attend the Statewide biennial meeting: All local board members; All election directors; All counsel to local boards; Any other individual designated by the State Board or the State Administrator; and Any other individual designated by a local board or an election director. Excused Absences—by State Administrator. The State Administrator may excuse the attendance of an individual described in §B(1)—(4) of this regulation only: On written request; and For one of the following reasons: Death in the individual's immediate family, Serious illness of the individual, or Similar good cause shown to the satisfaction of the State Administrator. Excused Absences—by Election Director. An election director may excuse the attendance of an individual described in §B(5) of this regulation in accordance with the regulations of the local board. Local Counsel. Counsel to local boards shall make every effort to clear their calendars to avoid a conflict with the meeting. Administrator May Establish. The State Administrator may hold meetings to train election directors in the duties and responsibilities of their positions and to educate them on emerging technologies and practices in elections administration. Mandatory Attendees. Unless excused by the State Administrator, all election directors shall attend these meetings. The State Administrator may also require: Election directors and staff to attend training sessions in a specified area, such as candidacy, campaign finance, and voter registration; and Election directors or their designees to conduct training sessions on specified topics, such as voter registration. Election Law Article, §2-102(b)(4), 2-104, and 2-202(b), Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: Regulations .01—.03 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) Regulation .03B 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)