US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      (a)      (1)      There is a Board of Directors of the Corporation.

            (2)      The Board manages the Corporation and exercises all of its corporate powers.

      (b)      The Board consists of the following members:

            (1)      As ex officio members:

                  (i)      The Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of the Secretary who must be a senior-level departmental official;

                  (ii)      The Secretary of Natural Resources or a designee of the Secretary who must be a senior-level departmental official;

                  (iii)      The Secretary of Business and Economic Development or a designee of the Secretary who must be a senior-level departmental official;

                  (iv)      The Executive Director of the Maryland Food Center Authority;

                  (v)      The Executive Director of the Rural Maryland Council; and

                  (vi)      The Director of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service; and

            (2)      Eleven individuals appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows:

                  (i)      Two agricultural producers representing at least two different farm commodity industries in the State;

                  (ii)      Two representatives from commercial lending institutions serving rural regions in the State, one of whom must represent a major farm credit organization operating in the State;

                  (iii)      One representative of the timber and forest products industry;

                  (iv)      One representative of the aquaculture industry;

                  (v)      One representative of the commercial seafood harvesting and processing industry;

                  (vi)      One individual with knowledge and experience in the area of operating commercial food or fiber processing facilities;

                  (vii)      One individual with knowledge and experience in the area of public finance;

                  (viii)      One individual with knowledge and experience in the area of rural economic development or agricultural marketing; and

                  (ix)      One individual with knowledge about the agricultural, forestry, or seafood industries or agritourism in the State or with substantial and relevant economic development experience.

      (c)      (1)      In appointing Board members under subsection (b)(2) of this section, the Governor shall consider all of the geographic regions of the State.

            (2)      A Board member must be a resident of the State.

            (3)      A Board member:

                  (i)      Serves without compensation; but

                  (ii)      Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations as provided in the State budget.

            (4)      The Governor may remove a Board member for incompetence, misconduct, or failure to perform the duties of the position.

      (d)      (1)      The term of a Board member appointed under subsection (b)(2) of this section is 4 years.

            (2)      The terms of the appointed members are staggered as required by the terms provided for the members on July 1, 2004.

            (3)      At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

            (4)      A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

      (e)      The Board shall elect a chair from among its members.

      (f)      The Board may act with an affirmative vote of nine members.