<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" citation="COMAR 33.13.12.02" title_num="33" subtitle_num="13" chapter_num="12" heading="Establishment.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In General.</text>
    <paragraph num="(a)">
      <text>For a Senate party committee, elect candidates to the Senate of Maryland; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(b)">
      <text>For a House party committee, elect candidates to the Maryland House of Delegates.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>By-Laws.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The legislative party caucus committee shall develop and submit by-laws to the State Board for approval.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The by-laws shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>State the purpose of the legislative party caucus committee;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Create rules for conducting its business;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Establish permanent staff positions and define the general overall responsibilities for each such staff position; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Establish a method of amending the by-laws.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>All changes to the by-laws shall be submitted to the State Board within 30 days of the change for review and approval by the State Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Except as otherwise provided in Title 13 of the Election Law Article or in this chapter, each legislative party caucus committee shall be governed according to the by-laws approved by the State Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Appointing Authority.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §C(2) of this regulation, the appointing authority for the chairman and treasurer of a legislative party caucus committee is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>For a principal political party:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>In the Senate of Maryland, the President of the Senate or the Senate Minority Leader; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>In the Maryland House of Delegates, the Speaker of the House or the House Minority Leader; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For a recognized, non-principal political party:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>If the party has elected members in the Maryland General Assembly, the highest ranking member of each respective chamber, as determined by seniority; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>If the party has no elected members in the Maryland General Assembly, the chairman of the State party central committee.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The by-laws of a legislative party caucus committee may establish an alternative appointing authority.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Required Filings. Prior to engaging in campaign finance activity, a legislative party caucus committee shall file with the State Board:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A statement of organization designating the chairman and treasurer selected by the appointing authority of the legislative party caucus committee; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>By-laws that have been approved by the State Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>