2010 Maryland Code
EDUCATION
TITLE 24 - MISCELLANEOUS EDUCATION AGENCIES
Subtitle 6 - Commission on Civic Literacy
Section 24-601 - Commission on Civic Literacy.

§ 24-601. Commission on Civic Literacy [Section subject to abrogation].
 

(a)  Established.- There is a Commission on Civic Literacy. 

(b)  Composition.- The Commission consists of the following members: 

(1) The Governor, or the Governor's designee; 

(2) The Lieutenant Governor, or the Lieutenant Governor's designee; 

(3) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee; 

(4) The Secretary of State, or the Secretary's designee; 

(5) The President of the Senate, or the President's designee; 

(6) The Speaker of the House of Delegates, or the Speaker's designee; 

(7) The Chair of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, or the Chair's designee; 

(8) The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, or the Chair's designee; 

(9) The State Superintendent of Schools, or the Superintendent's designee; 

(10) The President of the State Board of Education, or the President's designee; 

(11) The President of the Maryland Parent Teacher Association, or the President's designee; 

(12) A State coordinator of the Maryland Legislators' Back to School Program to represent the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 

(13) A State coordinator of the Maryland Legislators' Back to School Program to represent the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 

(14) The President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, or the President's designee; 

(15) The State coordinator of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution; 

(16) The President of the Maryland State Teachers Association, or the President's designee; 

(17) A representative of the Boys and Girls Clubs in Maryland, appointed by the Governor; 

(18) The Secretary of Higher Education, or the Secretary's designee; 

(19) The President of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission, or the President's designee; 

(20) The President of the League of Women Voters of Maryland, or the President's designee; 

(21) A representative of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the Maryland D.C. Delaware Broadcasters Association, appointed by the President of each organization acting jointly; 

(22) The Executive Director of the Citizenship Law-Related Education Program for the Schools of Maryland, or the Executive Director's designee; 

(23) A member of the Policy Studies Organization in the University System of Maryland, appointed by the Governor; 

(24) The Chair of the Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement Network, or the Chair's designee; 

(25) The President of the Maryland Council for the Social Studies, or the President's designee; 

(26) The Director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), or the Director's designee; 

(27) Two students enrolled in public high schools in Maryland, appointed by the Maryland Association of Student Councils; 

(28) Two teachers who teach in public high schools in Maryland, appointed by the Maryland State Teachers Association; and 

(29) One member of the judiciary of the State, appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. 

(c)  Chair, vice chair, and officers.- From among its members, the Commission shall elect a chair, vice chair, and any other officers necessary to carry out its functions. 

(d)  Staff.- The State Department of Education shall provide staff and other necessary support to the Commission using existing resources. 

(e)  Compensation and reimbursement for expenses.- A member of the Commission may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission, but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 

(f)  Meetings.- The Commission shall meet at least twice each year and may hold additional meetings at the discretion of the chair or at the request of a majority of the members. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates acting jointly shall call the first meeting of the Commission. 

(g)  Duties.- The Commission shall: 

(1) Develop and coordinate programs in collaboration with schools to educate students in the importance of: 

(i) Reasoned debate, good faith, negotiation, and compromise in representative democracy; 

(ii) Individual involvement in creating successful communities; and 

(iii) Consideration and respect for others in deliberating, negotiating, and advocating positions on public concerns; 

(2) Identify civic education projects in Maryland and provide technical assistance to those projects as needed; 

(3) Build a network of education professionals to share information and strengthen partnerships; 

(4) Consult with organizations represented on the Commission as appropriate; 

(5) Develop a clearinghouse that shall be available on the Internet to include: 

(i) A database of civic education resources, lesson plans, and other programs and best practices in civic education; 

(ii) A bulletin board to promote discussion of ideas relating to civic education; 

(iii) An events calendar; and 

(iv) Links to civic education research; 

(6) Support successful civic education programs in Maryland and encourage the expansion of those programs; and 

(7) Report on its activities to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, annually on or before October 1 of each year. 

(h)  Expenditures; services.- The Commission may: 

(1) Seek, accept, and expend funds from any source, including donations, State appropriations, and federal grants; and 

(2) Seek, accept, and use services from individuals, corporations, and government entities. 
 

[2007, ch. 5, § 7; ch. 160; 2008, ch. 36, § 6; 2009, ch. 326.]