County Boards of Education and Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners - Vacancy Procedures - Alterations

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0595*

SENATE BILL 595
F1 6lr0983
CF HB 140
By: Senator Kagan
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

County Boards of Education and Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners 2
– Vacancy Procedures – Alterations 3

FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education and the Baltimore City Board 4
of School Commissioners to hold an election for a vacant elected board member 5
position that occurs before a certain date; requiring each county board and the 6
Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners to appoint a replacement for a vacant 7
elected board member position that occurs after a certain date or if there is no 8
qualified candidate for a certain election subject to certain requirements; requiring 9
each county board and the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners to appoint 10
a replacement for a vacant appointed board member position within a certain time 11
period; and generally relating to vacancy procedures for county boards of education 12
and the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. 13

BY adding to 14
Article – Education 15
Section 3–106, 3–2A–04, and 3–13A–03 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 19
Article – Education 20
Section 3–108.1(c) and (d)(1), 3 –201(b), 3–2A–01(a), 3–301(a) and (b), 3 –401(a), 21
3–4A–01(a), 3–5B–01(a), 3 –601(b), 3 –801(a), 3 –1002(b), 3 –10A–01(a), 22
3–1101(a), 3–1201(a), and 3–13A–01(a)(1) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 25

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 26
Article – Education 27
2 SENATE BILL 595

Section 3–108.1(i), 3 –201(a) and (e), 3 –2B–03, 3 –2B–04, 3 –301(e), 3 –3A–02, 1
3–401(d), 3–4A–01(d), 3–501, 3–5A–01, 3 –5B–01(d), 3 –601(a) and (e), 2
3–6A–01, 3 –701, 3 –801(e), 3 –901(a) and (f), 3 –1002(g), 3–10A–01(d), 3
3–1101(g), 3–1201(d), 3–12A–01, 3–1301, 3–13A–05 through 3–13A–08, and 4
3–1401 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 7

BY repealing 8
Article – Education 9
Section 3–2A–03(c), 3–2A–04, 3–2B–02(c), 3–13A–03, and 3–13A–04 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14

Article – Education 15

3–106. 16

(A) (1) A VACANCY FOR AN ELECT ED MEMBER OF A COUNT Y BOARD OF 17
EDUCATION SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF 18
THIS SUBSECTION. 19

(2) (I) IF A VACANCY OCCURS 55 DAYS OR MORE BEFORE THE 20
CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION THAT IS HELD IN THE 21
SECOND YEAR OF THE V ACATING MEMBER ’S TERM , THE SUCCESSOR SHALL BE 22
ELECTED AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION. 23

(II) AN ELECTION HELD UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 24
PARAGRAPH SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 8, SUBTITLE 8 OF 25
THE ELECTION LAW ARTICLE. 26

(3) (I) IF A VACANCY OCCURS 54 DAYS OR LESS BEFORE THE 27
CANDIDATE FILING DEADLINE FOR THE PRIMAR Y ELECTION THAT IS H ELD IN THE 28
SECOND YEAR OF THE V ACATING MEMBER ’S TE RM, IF NO CANDIDATE FILE S A 29
CERTIFICATE OF CANDI DACY FOR THE ELECTED MEMBER ’S OFFICE, OR IF NO 30
INDIVIDUAL OTHERWISE QUALIFIES TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL’S NAME PLACED ON 31
THE BALLOT FOR AN ELECTION UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE 32
REMAINING MEMBERS O F THE COUNTY BOARD S HALL SELECT A QUALIF IED 33
INDIVIDUAL TO FILL THE VACANCY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT TERM AND UNTIL 34
A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED AND QUALIFIES. 35

SENATE BILL 595 3

(II) TO SELECT AN INDIVIDUAL TO FILL A VACANCY DESCRIBED 1
UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARD 2
SHALL: 3

1. ADVERTISE THE VACANCY DESCRIBED UN DER 4
SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; 5

2. REVIEW RESUMES SUBMITTED FROM CANDIDATES 6
FOR THE VACANCY; 7

3. CONDUCT LIVESTREAM ED INTERVIEWS OF ALL 8
CANDIDATES; AND 9

4. HOLD A PUBLIC VOTE TO SELECT A CANDIDATE TO 10
FILL THE VACANCY. 11

(B) (1) A VACANCY FOR AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF A COUNTY BOARD OF 12
EDUCATION SHALL BE F ILLED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT TERM AND UNTIL A 13
SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES USING THE METHOD THAT THE COUNTY 14
BOARD USES TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE BOARD. 15

(2) A MEMBER APPOINTED UND ER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE 16
APPOINTED NOT LATER THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE VACANCY 17
OCCURS. 18

3–108.1. 19

(c) There is a Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners of the Baltimore 20
City Public School System. 21

(d) (1) The board consists of: 22

(i) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, nine 23
voting members appointed by the Mayor from a list of qualified individuals submi tted to 24
the Mayor by the panel; 25

(ii) Two elected voting members; and 26

(iii) One voting student member elected as provided in subsection (m) 27
of this section. 28

(i) (1) (i) The term of an appointed voting member is 3 years. 29

(ii) The term of an elected member is 4 years. 30

4 SENATE BILL 595

(2) The terms of the appointed voting members are staggered as required 1
by the terms provided for the appointed members of the board on June 1, 1997. 2

(3) At the end of a term, a voting member continues to serve until a 3
successor is elected or appointed and qualifies. 4

(4) A voting member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only 5
for the remainder of the term and until a successor is elected or appointed and qualifies. 6

(5) A voting member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms. 7

(6) [(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, to the 8
extent practicable, the Mayor shall fill any vacancy for an appointed or elected member on 9
the board within 60 days of the date of the vacancy from a list of qualified individuals 10
submitted to the Mayor by the panel. 11

(ii) If the Mayor elects not to appoint a member from a list submitted 12
by the panel under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Mayor shall reconvene the panel 13
to submit additional names of qualified candidates ] A VACANCY OF AN APPOIN TED OR 14
ELECTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106 15
OF THIS SUBTITLE. 16

(7) The elected members of the board shall be elected: 17

(i) At the general election in November 2022 and every 4 years 18
thereafter; and 19

(ii) In accordance with Title 8, Subtitle 8 of the Election Law Article. 20

3–201. 21

(a) (1) In this subtitle, “elected member” means a voting member elected under 22
subsection (d) or (e) of this section or a member [appointed to an] THAT FILLS A VACATED 23
elected position on the county board under subsection (e)(3) of this section. 24

(2) “Elected member” does not include the nonvoting student member 25
selected under subsection (f) of this section. 26

(b) The Allegany County Board consists of: 27

(1) Five elected members; and 28

(2) One nonvoting student member, who is to advise the other members of 29
the county board on the viewpoint of students who attend Allegany County public schools. 30

SENATE BILL 595 5

(e) (1) Each elected member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on January 1
2 after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. If January 2 is 2
a legal holiday, the term begins on the first day after January 2 that is not a legal holiday. 3

(2) The terms of elected members are staggered as required by the terms 4
of the members serving on the county board on July 1, 1978. 5

(3) [Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the Allegany 6
County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified individual to fill any vacancy in an elected 7
member’s position on the board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is 8
elected and qualifies. 9

(4) If a vacancy occurs before the date that is 10 days prior to the filing 10
deadline for candidates for the primary election that is held in the second year of the term, 11
the individual appointed under paragraph (3) of this subsection shall serve only until a 12
successor is elected by the voters at the time of the next general election. 13

(5) Candidates for the vacated office may be nominated at a primary 14
election in the same manner as for any other position on the county board. 15

(6) When more than one member of the board is to be elected at an election 16
and the terms of the offices to be filled at the election vary, the elected candidate receiving 17
the greater number of votes shall fill the office with the longer term. 18

(7) The candidate receiving the vacated position shall take office as soon as 19
possible after the election, and shall continue to serve for the remainder of the vacated term 20
and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 21

(8) Except as provided in this subsection, an election to fill a vacancy on 22
the Allegany County Board of Education shall be governed by §§ 8 –801 through 8–806 of 23
the Election Law Article ] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE COUNTY 24
BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 25

[(9)] (4) The Allegany County Board of Supervisors of Elections may 26
adopt regulations to implement this subsection. 27

3–2A–01. 28

(a) The Anne Arundel County Board of Education consists of: 29

(1) Seven nonpartisan elected members; and 30

(2) One student member. 31

3–2A–03. 32

6 SENATE BILL 595

[(c) In any election, if no candidate files a certificate of candidacy for the office or 1
if no individual otherwise qualifies to have the individual’s name placed on the ballot, the 2
County Council of Anne Arundel County shall appoint a qualified individual to fill that 3
vacancy no later than 30 days after the general election.] 4

[3–2A–04. 5

The County Council of Anne Arundel County shall select a qualified individual to fill 6
any vacancy in the office of an elected member of the county board for the remainder of the 7
term and until a successor is elected and qualifies.] 8

3–2A–04. 9

A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE 10
FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 11

3–2B–02. 12

[(c) In any election, if no candidate files a certificate of candidacy for the office or 13
if no individual otherwise qualifies to have the individual’s name placed on the ballot, the 14
Governor shall appoint a member from a list of nominees submitted by the Baltimore 15
County School Board Nominating Commission to fill that vacancy no later than 30 days 16
after the general election.] 17

3–2B–03. 18

(a) (1) There is a Baltimore County School Board Nominating Commission. 19

(2) The purpose of the Commission is to select nominees to be 20
recommended to the Governor as qualified candidates for appointment to the Baltimore 21
County Board of Education. 22

(3) (i) The Commission shall hold at least thr ee public hearings, each 23
in a different councilmanic district, on the selection of multiple nominees before 24
recommending to the Governor nominees for appointment to the county board. 25

(ii) [For a single vacancy on the county board, the Commission shall 26
hold public meetings in the following manner on the selection of a nominee before 27
recommending to the Governor the nominee for appointment to the county board: 28

1. For a vacancy in a councilmanic district, at least one public 29
meeting in that councilmanic district; or 30

2. For a vacancy for a member appointed at large, at least 31
one public meeting at the county board administrative offices. 32

SENATE BILL 595 7

(iii)] The Commission shall make publicly available on its website: 1

1. Live video streaming of each public meeting; and 2

2. A complete and unedited archived video recording of each 3
public meeting for which live streaming was made available under item 1 of this 4
subparagraph. 5

(4) Before the Commission begins interviewing candidates for appointment 6
to the county board, the Commission shall publish the names of all the candidates on the 7
Commission’s website. 8

(5) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a 9
meeting of the Commission shall be open to the public if it involves an action on a candidate 10
for appointment to the county board. 11

(ii) 1. A meeting of the Commission that involves an interview of 12
or a deliberation about a candidate for appointment to the county board shall be held 13
without the public in attendance and the meeting shall be recorded. 14

2. The Commission shall provide a copy of a meeting 15
recording for public inspection within 48 hours after receiving a request for the recording. 16

(b) (1) The Commission consists of 19 members who shall be appointed in 17
accordance with this subsection. 18

(2) The Commission shall reflect the rich cultural, geographic, ethnic, and 19
racial diversity of Baltimore County. 20

(3) The Governor, in consultation with the County Executive of Baltimore 21
County, shall appoint eight members, one from each legislative district that lies in whole 22
or in part in Baltimore County. 23

(4) The County Executive of Baltimore County shall appoint one member 24
from the county at large. 25

(5) The following organizations each shall appoint one member: 26

(i) The Teachers Association of Baltimore County; 27

(ii) The Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce; 28

(iii) The PTA Council of Baltimore County, Inc.; 29

(iv) Towson University; 30

(v) The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County; 31
8 SENATE BILL 595

(vi) The Baltimore County Branch of the National Association for the 1
Advancement of Colored People; 2

(vii) The Baltimore County Public Schools’ Special Education 3
Citizens’ Advisory Committee; 4

(viii) The Baltimore County Student Councils; 5

(ix) The Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees; and 6

(x) The Education Support Personnel of Baltimore County. 7

(c) (1) The County Executive of Baltimore County shall designate one of the 8
Commission’s members as chair of the Commission. 9

(2) The term of the chair of the Commission is 4 years. 10

(3) The term of a member of the Commission is 4 years. 11

(d) The Baltimore County Public Schools shall provide staff for the Commission. 12

[(e) Beginning October 1, 2018, for each nomination for a vacancy on the county 13
board, the Commission shall submit to the Governor a list of nominees that contains: 14

(1) At least two names for each vacancy; or 15

(2) If there are fewer than two applicants for a vacancy, the number of 16
names that is equal to the number of applicants for the vacancy. 17

(f) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commission may retain 18
and reactivate the application of a candidate for a vacancy on the county board for up to 2 19
years from the date the Commission submitted the list of nominees to the Governor for the 20
vacancy for which the applicant was initially considered. 21

(2) (i) The Commission may reactivate the application of a candidate 22
under paragraph (1) of this subsection only with the consent of the applicant. 23

(ii) To reactivate an application under this subsection, the 24
Commission shall: 25

1. Within 14 days after the date of the new vacancy, send a 26
notice to the applicant requesting consent to reactivate the applicant’s application; and 27

2. Within 14 days after t he date the applicant received the 28
notice under item 1 of this subparagraph, receive the consent of the applicant.] 29

SENATE BILL 595 9

[(g)] (E) (1) Absent an extraordinary circumstance, the Governor shall 1
appoint a member to the county board from the list provided by the Commission. 2

(2) If the Governor elects not to appoint a member from a list submitted by 3
the Commission, the Governor shall return the list to the Commission and request that the 4
Commission submit the names of additional qualified candidates. 5

3–2B–04. 6

(a) Except for the student member, a member serves for a term of 4 years 7
beginning on the first Monday in December after the member’s election or appointment and 8
until a successor is elected or appointed and qualifies. 9

(b) [(1) An individual who takes o ffice to fill a vacancy for an elected or 10
appointed member serves for the remainder of the term for which the appointment was 11
made and until a successor is elected or appointed and qualifies. 12

(2) The Governor shall act within 30 days to make any appointment to the 13
county board] A VACANCY OF AN APPOINTED OR ELECTED MEMBER OF THE COUNTY 14
BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106 OF THIS TITLE. 15

3–301. 16

(a) The Calvert County Board consists of five voting members and one nonvoting 17
student member. 18

(b) The five voting members of the Calvert County Board shall be elected at a 19
general election as required by subsections (d) and (f) of this section. 20

(e) (1) Except for the student member, a member serves for a term of 4 years 21
beginning January 1 after the election of the member and until a successor is elected and 22
qualifies. 23

(2) [The County Commissioners shall appoint a new member to fill any 24
vacancy on the county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected 25
and qualifies] A VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE 26
FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 27

(3) (i) Unless otherwise disqualified under this section, a member of the 28
county board is eligible for reelection. 29

(ii) An individual may not serve for more than three consecutive 30
terms. 31

3–3A–02. 32

10 SENATE BILL 595

(a) The Caroline County Board of Education consists of: 1

(1) Three elected members; 2

(2) Two appointed members; and 3

(3) Two nonvoting student members. 4

(b) (1) One elected member shall be elected from each of the three board of 5
education districts established in Caroline County. 6

(2) An elected member shall be: 7

(i) A resident of the district from which the member is elected; and 8

(ii) Elected only by the voters of that district. 9

(3) (i) 1. Two appointed members shall be appointed by the 10
Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the county at–large. 11

2. Each appointed member shall be a resident of the county. 12

(ii) In appointing members to the county board, the Governor shall 13
ensure, to the extent practicable, that the total makeup of the county board reflects gender, 14
ethnic, and racial diversity. 15

(c) (1) The board of education districts shall: 16

(i) Be established by the County Commissioners of Caroline County; 17
and 18

(ii) Be substantially equal in population and reapportioned on the 19
basis of each decennial census of the United States. 20

(2) Reapportioned districts shall become effective for the term of office 21
commencing after the first regular primary election held at least 15 months after the official 22
report on population is received by the State from the Bureau of the Census. 23

(d) (1) As applicable for that board of education district, at the general election 24
the ballot shall provide the voter with the choice to cast a vote “For” a candidate for election 25
from that district. 26

(2) After the election results are certified, the State Board of Elections shall 27
declare for each district whether a candidate has been elected. 28

(e) (1) An individual elected to the county board shall be at least 21 years old 29
and a registered voter and resident of Caroline County for at least 3 years. 30
SENATE BILL 595 11

(2) A member may not continue as a member of the county board if the 1
member: 2

(i) No longer resides in the board of education district that the 3
member is designated to represent; or 4

(ii) Is not a registered voter of Caroline County. 5

(3) An individual employed by, or under the direction of, the county board 6
or the Caroline County Superintendent of Schools is not eligible to serve on the county 7
board. 8

(f) (1) A student member of the county board shall: 9

(i) Be a regularly enrolled eleventh or twelfth grade student of good 10
character and in good standing in a Caroline County public high school during the student’s 11
term in office; 12

(ii) Be selected in the student’s tenth or eleventh grade in accordance 13
with paragraph (3) of this subsection; and 14

(iii) 1. Serve for a term of 1 year; and 15

2. If the student is in the twelfth grade, continue to serve 16
after graduation and until a successor is selected and qualifies. 17

(2) Each high school in the county shall be represented by a student 18
member of the county board. 19

(3) (i) For nomination to the county board, the student body shall 20
submit to the princi pal of the high school a list of nominees that contains the names of 21
eligible students. 22

(ii) The principal of the high school shall select the student member 23
from the list of nominees submitted to the principal under subparagraph (i) of this 24
paragraph. 25

(4) If a vacancy in the position of student member occurs during the term 26
of a student member, the principal of the high school represented on the county board shall 27
select another student member using the method set forth under paragraph (3) of this 28
subsection. 29

(g) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each elected member serves 30
for a term of 4 years beginning on the first Monday in December after the member’s election 31
and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 32

12 SENATE BILL 595

(2) The initial terms of the elected members are staggered as follows: 1

(i) The two members elected to the county board at the general 2
election in November 2012 who receive the highest number of votes cast from among the 3
successful candidates at that election shall serve for a term of 4 years; and 4

(ii) The member elected to the county board at the general election 5
in November 2012 who receives the least number of votes cast from among the successful 6
candidates at that election shall serve for a term of 2 years. 7

(h) [(1) In the event of a vacancy of an elected member on the county board due 8
to death, resignation, disqualification, or removal, the remaining voting members shall 9
select a qualified individual to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the vacating 10
member and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 11

(2) An individual appointed to fill a vacancy for an elected member shall be 12
a resident of the same board of education district as that of the vacating member. 13

(3) Before filling a vacancy for an elected member, the remaining voting 14
members of the county board shall conduct an interview of each applicant at an open 15
meeting. 16

(4) (i) The county board shall publish a list of the names of the 17
applicants for a vacancy on the county board at least 2 weeks before the interview of the 18
first applicant is scheduled to occur. 19

(ii) The county board shall cause public notice of the date, time, and 20
location of the interview for each applicant to be published: 21

1. At least 2 weeks before the interview is scheduled to occur; 22
and 23

2. In the same manner as public notice of a regular meeting 24
of the county board is published. 25

(5) The county board is not required to conduct discussions of the 26
applicants or make the final selection of the elected memb er to fill the vacancy at an open 27
meeting] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE 28
FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 29

(i) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each appointed member 30
serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the first Monday in December 2012. 31

(2) The initial terms of the appointed members are staggered as follows: 32

(i) One appointed member shall serve for a term of 6 years; and 33

SENATE BILL 595 13

(ii) One appointed member shall serve for a term of 4 years. 1

(3) [In the event of a vacancy of an appointed member due to death, 2
resignation, disqualification, or removal, the Governor shall appoint another individual to 3
complete the term of the vacating appointed member ] A VACANCY OF AN APPOIN TED 4
MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 5
3–106(B) OF THIS TITLE. 6

3–401. 7

(a) The Carroll County Board consists of: 8

(1) Five voting members; 9

(2) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, one nonvoting student 10
representative; and 11

(3) The County Commissioners, who are nonvoting ex officio members. 12

(d) (1) Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning the first 13
Monday in December immediately following the voting member’s election and until a 14
successor is elected and qua lifies. The terms of the voting members are staggered as 15
required for the elections to the county board in subsection (c)(1) of this section. 16

(2) A voting member may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. 17

(3) [The Governor shall appoint a new voting member to fill any vacancy 18
on the board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 19

(4) A voting member of the county board as of October 1, 1993, and any 20
voting member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term of such member, shall hold 21
office during his term and until a successor is elected and qualifies ] A VACANCY OF A 22
VOTING MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 23
3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 24

3–4A–01. 25

(a) The Cecil County Board consists of six members as follows: 26

(1) One voting member elected from each of the five commissioner districts; 27
and 28

(2) One nonvoting student member. 29

14 SENATE BILL 595

(d) (1) Except as provided under subsection (e) of this section, each voting 1
member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the first Monday in December after the 2
member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 3

(2) A voting member may not serve for more than three terms. 4

(3) [The Governor shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on the 5
county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and qualifies ] 6
A VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D 7
ACCORDING TO § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 8

3–501. 9

(a) (1) The Charles County Board consists of: 10

(i) Nine elected members; and 11

(ii) One student member. 12

(2) Of the nine elected members: 13

(i) Two members shall: 14

1. Be elected from each of the four county commissioner 15
districts; 16

2. Be a resident of the county commissione r district from 17
which the member is elected; and 18

3. Be elected only by the voters of that county commissioner 19
district; and 20

(ii) One member shall be elected from the county at–large. 21

(b) (1) As applicable for that county commissioner district, a t the general 22
election the ballot shall provide the voter with the choice to cast a vote “For” a candidate 23
for election from that county commissioner district. 24

(2) After the election results are certified, the State Board of Elections shall 25
declare for each county commissioner district whether a candidate has been elected. 26

(c) (1) An individual elected to the county board shall be: 27

(i) At least 21 years old; and 28

(ii) A resident and registered voter of Charles County for at least 3 29
years. 30
SENATE BILL 595 15

(2) An elected member shall forfeit the office if the member: 1

(i) Fails to reside in the county commissioner district from which 2
the member was elected, unless this change is caused by a change in boundaries of the 3
district; 4

(ii) Fails to be a resident of the county; or 5

(iii) Fails to be a registered voter of the county. 6

(3) An individual employed by or under the direction of the county board 7
or the county superintendent is not eligible to serve on the county board. 8

(d) All elected members of the Charles County Board shall be elected at a general 9
election as required by subsection (e) of this section. 10

(e) (1) (i) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each elected member 11
serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the third Monday in Dece mber after the general 12
election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 13

(ii) If the third Monday in December is a legal holiday, the term 14
begins on the first day after the third Monday in December that is not a legal holiday. 15

(2) The terms of members, beginning with members elected at the general 16
election in November 2022, are staggered as required by the terms provided for elected 17
members of the county board on July 1, 2021. 18

(3) An elected member may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. 19

(f) [(1) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, within 20
90 days after a vacancy occurs on the county board, the elected members of the county board 21
shall select a qualified individual to fill the vacancy on the board for the remainder of that 22
term and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 23

(ii) The county board may choose not to fill a vacancy that occurs in 24
an election year for the seat that is vacant. 25

(2) An individual appointed to fill a vacancy of an elected member shall be 26
a resident of the same county commissioner district as that of the vacating member. 27

(3) (i) An interview of an applicant for a vacancy on the board shall be 28
conducted by the board at a meeting open to the public. 29

(ii) The board shall make publicly available through its website: 30

16 SENATE BILL 595

1. Live video streaming of each public meeting under this 1
paragraph; and 2

2. A complete video recording of each public meeting that is 3
livestreamed in accordance with this paragraph and the Open Meetings Act. 4

(4) (i) The board shall publish a list of the names of the applicants for 5
a vacancy on the board at least 2 weeks before the interview of the first applicant is 6
scheduled to occur. 7

(ii) Public notice of the date, time, and location of each interview 8
shall be published: 9

1. At least 2 weeks before the interview is scheduled to occur; 10
and 11

2. In the same manner as a public notice of a regular meeting 12
of the board is published. 13

(5) The board is not required to conduct discussions of the applicants or 14
make the final selection of the member to fill a vacancy of the elected member at a meeting 15
open to the public ] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD 16
SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 17

(g) (1) With the approval of the Governor, the State Board may remove an 18
elected member of the county board for any of the following reasons: 19

(i) Immorality; 20

(ii) Misconduct in office; 21

(iii) Incompetency; or 22

(iv) Willful neglect of duty. 23

(2) Before removing an elected member, the State Board shall send the 24
elected member a copy of the charges pending and give the elected member an opportunity 25
within 10 days to request a hearing. 26

(3) If the elected member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: 27

(i) The State Board shall promptly hold a hearing, but a hearing 28
may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the elected member a notice of 29
the hearing; and 30

SENATE BILL 595 17

(ii) The elected member shall have an opportunity to be heard 1
publicly befo re the State Board in the elected member’s own defense, in person or by 2
counsel. 3

(4) An elected member removed under this subsection has the right to a de 4
novo review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Charles County. 5

(h) (1) The student member o f the Charles County Board shall be an 11th or 6
12th grade student in the Charles County Public School System. 7

(2) The student member, and an alternate, shall be selected by the Charles 8
County Association of Student Councils. 9

(3) The term of the student member shall be 1 year. 10

(4) (i) The student member shall be a voting member of the board. 11

(ii) The student member may vote on all matters before the board 12
except those relating to: 13

1. Hearings on appeals of special education placements; 14

2. Hearings held under §§ 4–205 and 7–305 of this article; 15

3. Personnel matters, including those under §§ 6 –201 and 16
6–202 of this article; 17

4. Appointment, salary, and evaluation of the county 18
superintendent; 19

5. Collective bargaining decisions; 20

6. Capital and operating budgets; and 21

7. School closings, openings, and boundaries. 22

(5) Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the 23
county board, the student member may not attend an executive session that relates to any 24
matter for which the student member may not vote. 25

(6) On a majority vote of the elected members, the county board may 26
determine, on a case –by–case basis, whether a matter under consideration is covered by 27
the exclusionary provisions listed in paragraph (4) of this subsection. 28

(7) The State Board may remove the student member from the county 29
board in the same manner as an elected member. 30

18 SENATE BILL 595

3–5A–01. 1

(a) The Dorchester County Board consists of: 2

(1) Five voting members, elected in accordance w ith subsection (b) of this 3
section; and 4

(2) One nonvoting student member from each public high school in the 5
county. 6

(b) (1) The elected members of the county board shall be elected at the general 7
election. 8

(2) One member shall be elected from each of the five councilmanic districts 9
only by the voters of that councilmanic district. 10

(c) (1) A member elected from a councilmanic district shall be a resident of the 11
district. 12

(2) A member elected or appointed from a councilmanic district who no 13
longer resides in the district may not continue as a member of the county board. 14

(d) (1) Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning at noon on 15
the first Monday in December after the member’s election and until a successor is elected 16
and qualifies. 17

(2) A voting member may not serve for more than three consecutive terms. 18

(e) The terms of the voting members are staggered as follows: 19

(1) One member elected from each of the councilmanic districts 1, 3, and 5 20
at the 2004 general election, and every 4 years thereafter; and 21

(2) One member elected from each of the councilmanic districts 2 and 4 at 22
the 2006 general election, and every 4 years thereafter. 23

(f) [(1) The County Council shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on 24
the county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and 25
qualifies. 26

(2) A resident of the district in which a vacancy exists may apply for 27
appointment by the County Council to fill the vacancy. 28

(3) The County Council shall adopt rules governing the procedure through 29
which an individual may apply to fill a vacancy on the county board ] A VACANCY OF A 30
VOTING MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 31
3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 32
SENATE BILL 595 19

(g) (1) Each student member shall: 1

(i) Be a twelfth grade student in the Dorchester County public 2
school system elected by the high school students of the public school that the student 3
attends, in accordance with procedures established by the school system; 4

(ii) Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the 5
member; 6

(iii) Be a nonvoting member; and 7

(iv) Advise the board on the interests of students. 8

(2) Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the 9
county board, the student members may not attend an executive session. 10

3–5B–01. 11

(a) The Frederick County Board consists of eight members as follows: 12

(1) Seven members elected from the county at large; and 13

(2) One nonvoting student member. 14

(d) (1) The terms of voting members are staggered as provided in subsection 15
(c) of this section. 16

(2) [If there is a vacancy by an elected member of the county board 17
occurring 30 days or less before the candidate registration deadline for the next primary 18
election, the County Executive shall appoint, subject to confirmation of the County Council, 19
a qualified individual to fill the vacancy on the county board for the remainder of that term 20
and until a successor is elected in accordance with paragraph (4)(i) of this subsection and 21
qualifies. 22

(3) If there is a vacancy by an elected member of the county board occurring 23
more than 30 days before the candidate registration deadline for the next primary election 24
following the vacating member’s election: 25

(i) The County Executive shall appoint, su bject to confirmation of 26
the County Council, a qualified individual to temporarily fill the vacancy on the county 27
board who shall serve until a qualified individual is elected in accordance with paragraph 28
(4)(ii) of this subsection; and 29

(ii) The indivi dual elected under item (i) of this paragraph shall 30
serve for the remainder of that term until a successor is elected and qualifies. 31

20 SENATE BILL 595

(4) At a general election, vacancies shall be filled as follows: 1

(i) The candidates with the highest vote totals shall first fill any 2
vacant positions for a full term of 4 years; and 3

(ii) After all vacant positions for a full term of 4 years are filled, the 4
candidate with the next highest vote total shall fill the position for which a successor was 5
appointed under paragraph (3) of this subsection and serve the remainder of that term. 6

(5) Candidates for a vacated office may be nominated at a primary election 7
in the same manner as any other position on the county board] A VACANCY OF A VOTING 8
MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9
3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 10

3–601. 11

(a) (1) In this subtitle, “elected member” means a member of the county board 12
elected under subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section or [appointed to fill] THAT FILLS a 13
vacancy under subsection (e)(3) of this section. 14

(2) “Elected member” does not include the student member selected under 15
subsection (f) of this section. 16

(b) The Garrett County Board consists of: 17

(1) One elected member from each county commissioner district; 18

(2) Two elected members from the county at large; and 19

(3) One nonvoting student member. 20

(e) (1) Each elected member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on January 21
1 after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 22

(2) The terms for elected members are staggered as required by the terms 23
of the members serving on January 1, 1985. 24

(3) [The County Commissioners shall appoint a qualified individual to fill 25
any vacancy in an elected member’s position on the board for the remainder of the term 26
and until a successor is elected and qualifies] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTED MEMBER OF 27
THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS 28
TITLE. 29

3–6A–01. 30

SENATE BILL 595 21

(a) (1) In this subtitle, “elected member” means a voting member elected under 1
subsection (d) or (e) of this section or a member [appointed to an] THAT FILLS A VACATED 2
elected position on the Harford County Board of Education under subsection [(f)(1)] (F) of 3
this section. 4

(2) “Elected member” does not include a: 5

(i) County superintendent of schools serving as an ex officio member 6
of the county board; or 7

(ii) Student member selected under subsection (g) of this section. 8

(b) The county board consists of: 9

(1) Six elected members; 10

(2) Three appointed members; 11

(3) The county superintendent of schools, who is an ex officio nonvoting 12
member; and 13

(4) One student member. 14

(c) (1) (i) A member from a councilmanic district shall be a resident of that 15
district. 16

(ii) A member from a councilmanic district who no longer resides in 17
that district may not continue as a member of the county board. 18

(2) A member of the county board shall be a registered voter of the county 19
for at least 3 years prior to the date of the beginning of the term of office of the member. 20

(d) (1) Of the nine voting members of the county board elected or appointed 21
under this subsection: 22

(i) One member shall be elected from each of the six councilmanic 23
districts only by the voters of that councilmanic district; and 24

(ii) Three members shall be appointed by the County Executive, 25
subject to the advice and consent of the County Council, by a vote of at least five members 26
of the County Council. 27

(2) The elected members shall be elected at a general election as required 28
by subsection (e) of this section. 29

(3) (i) The appointed members shall be appointed, when appropriate, 30
within 90 days of the general election. 31
22 SENATE BILL 595

(ii) In appointing members to the county board, the County 1
Executive shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the total makeup of the county board 2
reflects the gender, ethnic, and racial diversity of the county. 3

(e) (1) An elected member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the first 4
Monday in December after the election of the member and until a successor is elected and 5
qualifies. 6

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, an appointed 7
member serves for a term of 4 years beginning July 1 after the appointment of the member 8
and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 9

(3) The members appointed under subsection (d)(1)(ii) of this section within 10
90 days of the general election in 2022 shall serve for a term of 2 years and until a successor 11
is appointed and qualifies. 12

(4) (i) Unless otherwise disqualified under this section, a member of the 13
county board is eligible for reelection or reappointment. 14

(ii) A voting elected member or an appointed member may not serve 15
for more than two consecutive terms as a voting member. 16

(5) The Harford County Board of Elections may adopt regulations to 17
implement this subsection. 18

(f) [(1) The Harford County Council shall appoint a qualified individual to fill 19
any vacancy of an elected member on the county board for the remainder of the term and 20
until a successor is elected and qualifies. 21

(2) (i) The County Executive shall appoint a qualified individual to fill 22
any vacancy of an appointed member of the county board for the remainder of the term and 23
until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 24

(ii) An appointment made in accordance with this paragraph is 25
subject to the advice and consent of the County Council by a vote of at least five members 26
of the County Council ] A VACANCY OF AN APPOINTED OR ELECTED MEMBER OF THE 27
COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106 OF THIS TITLE. 28

(g) (1) The student member of the county board shall be elected by the high 29
school students of the county in accordance with procedures established by the Harford 30
County public school system. 31

(2) The student member shall: 32

(i) Be an eleventh or twelfth grade student, in good standing, and 33
regularly enrolled in the Harford County public school system; 34
SENATE BILL 595 23

(ii) Be a student government association representative at the 1
student’s high school; 2

(iii) Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the 3
member; 4

(iv) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, 5
be a voting member; and 6

(v) Advise the county board on the thoughts and feelings of students 7
in the Harford County public schools. 8

(3) (i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (iii) of this 9
paragraph, the student member of the county board has the same rights and privileges as 10
a member appointed or elected under subsection (d) of this section. 11

(ii) Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of 12
the county board, the student member may not attend an executive session of the county 13
board addressing a matter on which a student member is prohibited from voting on under 14
subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph. 15

(iii) The student member shall vote on and participate in all matters 16
except those relating to: 17

1. Geographical attendance areas under § 4 –109 of this 18
article; 19

2. Acquisition and disposition of real prope rty and matters 20
pertaining to school construction under § 4–115 of this article; 21

3. Employment of architects under § 4–117 of this article; 22

4. Donations under § 4–118 of this article; 23

5. Condemnation under § 4–119 of this article; 24

6. Consolidation of schools and transportation of students 25
under § 4–120 of this article; 26

7. Appointment and salary of a county superintendent under 27
§§ 4–201 and 4–202 of this article; 28

8. Employee discipline and other appeals under § 4–205(c) of 29
this article; 30

9. Budgetary matters under Title 5 of this article; 31
24 SENATE BILL 595

10. Appointment and promotion of staff under § 6–201 of this 1
article; 2

11. Discipline of certificated staff under § 6–202 of this article; 3

12. Collective bargaining for certi ficated employees under 4
Title 6, Subtitle 4 of this article; 5

13. Collective bargaining for noncertificated employees under 6
Title 6, Subtitle 5 of this article; 7

14. Student suspension and expulsion under § 7 –305 of this 8
article; and 9

15. School calendar and curriculum. 10

3–701. 11

(a) (1) The Howard County Board consists of: 12

(i) Seven elected members; and 13

(ii) One student member. 14

(2) The seven elected members shall be elected as follows: 15

(i) One member from each of the five councilmanic districts in the 16
county, elected by the voters of that district; and 17

(ii) Two members at large, elected by the voters of the county. 18

(b) (1) A candidate who becomes an elected member of the county board shall 19
be a resident and registered voter of Howard County. 20

(2) (i) Any elected member who no longer resides in Howard County 21
may not continue as a member of the board. 22

(ii) Any member elected from a councilmanic district who no longer 23
resides in that district may not continue as a member of the board. 24

(3) If the boundary line of a Howard County Council District is changed, 25
the term of an incumbent member of the county board who no longer resides in that 26
councilmanic district because of the change is not affected during this term. 27

(c) The seven elected members of the Howard County Board shall be elected: 28

SENATE BILL 595 25

(1) Beginning in 2020, at the general election every 2 years as required by 1
subsection (d) of this section; and 2

(2) As specified in subsection (a) of this section. 3

(d) (1) (i) The terms of the elected members are staggered as provided in 4
this subsection. 5

(ii) Each term of office begins on the first Monday in December after 6
the election of a member and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 7

(2) (i) 1. The term of office of each member elected from a 8
councilmanic district, beginning at the 2020 election, is 4 years. 9

2. The term of office of each member elected at large, 10
beginning at the 2022 election, is 4 years. 11

(ii) The successors to the offices elected at the 2020 and 2022 12
elections, respectively, shall serve for a term of 4 years. 13

(3) [Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection and subject to 14
the confirmation of the County Council, the County Executive of Howard County shall 15
appoint a qualified individual to fill any vacancy for an elected member on the county board 16
for the remainder of that term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 17

(4) If a vacancy for an elected member occurs before the date that is 1 year 18
following the date of the member’s election, the individual appointed under paragraph (3) 19
of this subsection shall serve only until a successor is elected by the voters at the next 20
general election. 21

(5) Candidates for the vacated office may be nominated at a primary 22
election in the same manner as for any other position on the county board. 23

(6) The candidate receiving the vacated position shall take office on the 24
first Monday in December after the election and shall continue to serve for the remainder 25
of the vacated term and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 26

(7) Except as provided in this subsection, an election to fill a vacancy on 27
the Howard County Board of Education shall be governed by §§ 8–801 through 8–806 of the 28
Election Law Article ] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD 29
SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 30

[(e) When making an appointment to the county board, the County Executive of 31
Howard County shall endeavor to ensure that the county board refl ects the race, gender, 32
and ethnic diversity of the population of Howard County.] 33

26 SENATE BILL 595

[(f)] (E) (1) The student member shall be a bona fide resident of Howard 1
County and a regularly enrolled junior or senior year student from a Howard County public 2
high school. 3

(2) The student member shall serve for a term of 1 year beginning on July 4
1 after the member’s election, subject to confirmation of the election results by the county 5
board. 6

(3) The nomination and election process for the student member: 7

(i) Shall be approved by the Howard County Board of Education; 8

(ii) Shall include a provision that provides for the replacement of one 9
or both of the final candidates if one or both of them are unable, ineligible, or disqualified 10
to proceed in the election; and 11

(iii) Shall allow for any student in grades 6 through 11 enrolled in a 12
Howard County public school to vote directly for one of the two student member candidates. 13

(4) The student member candidate who receives the second highest 14
number of votes in the direct election: 15

(i) Shall become the alternate student member; and 16

(ii) Shall serve if the student member who is elected is unable, 17
ineligible, or disqualified to complete the student member’s term of office. 18

(5) Except as provided in pa ragraphs (6) and (7) of this subsection, the 19
student member has the same rights and privileges as an elected member. 20

(6) Unless invited to attend by the affirmative vote of a majority of the 21
county board, the student member may not attend a closed session addressing a matter on 22
which a student member is prohibited from voting under paragraph (7) of this subsection. 23

(7) The student member shall vote on all matters except those relating to: 24

(i) Geographical attendance areas under § 4–109 of this article; 25

(ii) Acquisition and disposition of real property and matters 26
pertaining to school construction under § 4–115 of this article; 27

(iii) Employment of architects under § 4–117 of this article; 28

(iv) Donations under § 4–118 of this article; 29

(v) Condemnation under § 4–119 of this article; 30

SENATE BILL 595 27

(vi) Consolidation of schools and transportation of students under § 1
4–120 of this article; 2

(vii) Appointment and salary of a county superintendent under §§ 3
4–201 and 4–202 of this article; 4

(viii) Employee discipline and other appeals under § 4 –205(c) of this 5
article; 6

(ix) Budgetary matters under Title 5 of this article; 7

(x) Appointment and promotion of staff under § 6–201 of this article; 8

(xi) Discipline of certificated staff under § 6–202 of this article; 9

(xii) Collective bargaining for certificated employees under Title 6, 10
Subtitle 4 of this article; 11

(xiii) Collective bargaining for noncertificated employees under Title 12
6, Subtitle 5 of this article; and 13

(xiv) Student suspension and expulsion under § 7–305 of this article. 14

(8) The student member may not receive compensation but, after 15
submitting expense vouchers, shall be reimbursed for out –of–pocket expenses incurred in 16
connection with official duties, in accordan ce with the procedures and regulations 17
established by the county board. 18

[(g)] (F) Passage of a motion by the county board requires the affirmative vote 19
of: 20

(1) Five members if the student member is authorized to vote; or 21

(2) Four members if the student member is not authorized to vote. 22

[(h)] (G) (1) The State Board may remove a member of the county board for: 23

(i) Immorality; 24

(ii) Misconduct in office; 25

(iii) Incompetency; or 26

(iv) Willful neglect of duty. 27

28 SENATE BILL 595

(2) Before removing a member, the State Board shall send the member a 1
copy of the charges against the member and give the member an opportunity within 10 2
days to request a hearing. 3

(3) If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: 4

(i) The State Board promptl y shall hold a hearing, but a hearing 5
may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the member a notice of the 6
hearing; and 7

(ii) The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly 8
before the State Board in the member’s own defense, in person or by counsel. 9

(4) A member removed under this subsection has the right to a de novo 10
review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Howard County. 11

3–801. 12

(a) The Kent County Board consists of: 13

(1) Five voting members; and 14

(2) One nonvoting student member. 15

(e) (1) (i) Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on 16
January 1 after his election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 17

(ii) The terms of members are staggered and elections shall be held 18
as provided in subsection (c) of this section. 19

(2) [Any vacancy on the county board of a voting member shall be filled by 20
a qualified individual appointed by the County Commissioners of Kent County to serve 21
until a successor is elected and qualifies at the general election next following the creation 22
of the vacancy and for which the deadline for the filing of candidates has not expired ] A 23
VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN 24
ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 25

(3) An individual may serve for more than 2 consecutive terms. 26

3–901. 27

(a) (1) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 28

(2) “Board of education district” means a geographic area of Montgomery 29
County in which an elected member of the Montgomery County Board of Education must 30
be a legal resident. The geographic area of each district is described in subsection (f) of this 31
SENATE BILL 595 29

section. Each district shall be substantially equal in population, and the districts shall be 1
reapportioned on the basis of each decennial census of the United States. 2

(3) “Elected member” means 1 of the 7 elected and voting members of the 3
Montgomery County Board or a member [appointed to fill] THAT FILLS a vacancy of 1 of 4
these 7 members. 5

(f) (1) Each elected member serves f or a term of 4 years beginning on 6
December 1 after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. The 7
terms of elected members are staggered as required by the terms of the members serving 8
on the county board as of July 1, 1978, so t hat 4 members are elected in gubernatorial 9
election years and 3 members are elected in presidential election years. 10

(2) Elected members of the county board shall be elected by the voters of 11
the entire county. 12

(3) (i) Of the 3 members elected in 1992 and every 4 years thereafter, 1 13
shall reside in Board of Education District 2 and 1 shall reside in Board of Education 14
District 4. The third member may reside in any part of the county. 15

(ii) Of the 4 members elected in 1990 and every 4 years thereafter, 1 16
shall reside in Board of Education District 1, 1 shall reside in Board of Education District 17
3, and 1 shall reside in Board of Education District 5. The fourth member may reside in 18
any part of the county. 19

(iii) The descriptions of board of education districts in this subsection 20
refer to the geographical boundaries of the election districts and the precincts: 21

1. As reviewed and certified by the Montgomery County 22
Board of Elections or its designees, before the precinct boundaries were reported to the U.S. 23
Bureau of the Census as part of the 2020 Census Redistricting Data Program; and 24

2. As those precinct lines are specifically shown on the P.L. 25
94–171 census block maps provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and as reviewed and 26
corrected by the Division of Capital Planning and Real Estate of the Montgomery County 27
Public Schools. 28

(iv) Board of Education District 1 consists of: 29

1. Election district 1; 30

2. Election district 2, precincts 1 and 3 through 11; 31

3. Election district 3; 32

4. Election district 6, precinct 11; 33

30 SENATE BILL 595

5. Election district 9, precincts 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 18, 1
20, 21, 22, 25, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 37, and 39; 2

6. Election district 11; and 3

7. Election district 12. 4

(v) Board of Education District 2 consists of: 5

1. Election district 2, precinct 2; 6

2. Election district 4, precincts 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 16, 19, 20, 7
21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 35, 37, 38, 40, 42, and 43; 8

3. Election district 6, precincts 1 through 10 and 13 through 9
16; and 10

4. Election district 9, precincts 2, 3, 6, 10, 13, 14, 16, 24, 26, 11
27, 31, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, and 41. 12

(vi) Board of Education District 3 consists of: 13

1. Election district 4, precincts 4, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 28, 14
31, 32, and 33; 15

2. Election district 7; 16

3. Election district 10; 17

4. Election district 13, precincts 3, 16, 34, 38, 39, and 65; and 18

5. That part of election district 13, precinct 40 that is 19
generally the southern part of precinct 40 from the precinct boundary at the intersection of 20
Summit Avenue and the CSX railroad tracks, northwest along the CSX railroad tracks to 21
the end of Plyers Mill Road, north to the boundary of Rock Creek Park, then east along the 22
boundary of Rock Creek Park to the precinct boundary. 23

(vii) Board of Education District 4 consists of: 24

1. Election district 4, precinct 26; 25

2. Election district 13, precincts 1, 2, 4 through 8, 10, 11, 13, 26
14, 15, 18 through 25, 27 through 33, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43, 44, 47, 50, 53, 55 through 59, 63, 27
67, and 68; and 28

3. Election district 13, precinct 40, excluding that part of 29
precinct 40 that is generally the southern part of precinct 40 from the precinct boundary at 30
SENATE BILL 595 31

the intersection of Summit Avenue and the CSX railroad tracks, northwest along the CSX 1
railroad tracks to the end of Plyers Mill Road, north to the boundary of Rock Creek Park, 2
then east along the boundary of Rock Creek Park to the precinct boundary. 3

(viii) Board of Education District 5 consists of: 4

1. Election district 4, precincts 1, 9, 34, 36, and 41; 5

2. Election district 5; 6

3. Election district 8; and 7

4. Election district 13, precincts 45, 46, 49, 51, 52, 54, 60, 61, 8
64, 69, 70, and 71. 9

(4) (i) The student member serves for a term of 1 year beginning on 10
July 1 after the election. 11

(ii) The student member shall be replaced for the remainder of the 12
term by the alternate student member if the student member: 13

1. Resigns or otherwise is unable to complete the term; or 14

2. Is removed under the provisions of subsection (g) of this 15
section. 16

(iii) The elected members of the county board shall select a student 17
to complete the remainder of the term if the student member is replaced as provided in 18
subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph and the alternate member: 19

1. Resigns or otherwise is unable to complete the term; or 20

2. Is removed under the provisions of subsection (g) of this 21
section. 22

(5) [The remaining members of the county board shall select a qualified 23
individual to fill any vacancy on the elected board for the remainder of that term and until 24
a successor is elected and qualifies ] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE 25
COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 26

(6) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an elected county 27
board member shall forfeit the office if the member fails to reside in the board of education 28
district from which the member was elected. 29

(ii) If the failure to continue to reside in the district i s caused by an 30
alteration in the board of education district boundaries because of reapportionment, the 31
member may complete the term for which the member was elected. 32
32 SENATE BILL 595

(iii) In the event of a vacancy caused by a member who is required to 1
reside in a particular board of education district, the person [appointed to fill] THAT FILLS 2
the vacancy shall reside in the same district at the time of appointment and while filling 3
out the unexpired term. 4

3–1002. 5

(b) The Prince George’s County Board consists of 10 members as follows: 6

(1) Nine elected members, each of whom resides in a different school board 7
district; and 8

(2) One student member selected under subsection (f)(2) of this section. 9

(g) (1) An elected member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the first 10
Monday in December after the member’s election and until the member’s successor is 11
elected and qualifies. 12

(2) Unless otherwise disqualified under this section, an elected member of 13
the county board is eligible for reelection. 14

(3) The student member serves for a term of 1 year beginning at the end of 15
a school year. 16

(4) [(i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, if a seat held by 17
an elected member of the county board becomes vacant, the County Executive shall: 18

1. Appoint a qualified individual to fill the seat for the 19
remainder of the term; and 20

2. Transmit the name of the appointee to the clerk of the 21
County Council. 22

(ii) If the County Council does not disapprove an appointment under 23
subparagraph (i) of this paragr aph by a two –thirds vote of all members of the County 24
Council within 45 days after the transmittal of the name of the appointee, the appointment 25
shall be considered approved ] A VACANCY OF AN ELECTE D MEMBER OF THE COUNTY 26
BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 27

3–10A–01. 28

(a) The Queen Anne’s County Board consists of: 29

(1) Five voting, nonpartisan, elected members; and 30

SENATE BILL 595 33

(2) One nonvoting student representative from each public high school in 1
the county. 2

(d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, each elected voting member 3
serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the first Monday in December after the member’s 4
election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 5

(2) The initial terms of the elected voting m embers are staggered as 6
follows: 7

(i) The three members elected to the county board at the general 8
election in November 2008 who receive the highest number of votes cast from among the 9
successful candidates at that election shall serve for a term of 6 years; and 10

(ii) The two members elected to the county board at the general 11
election in November 2008 who receive the least number of votes cast from among the 12
successful candidates at that election shall serve for a term of 4 years. 13

(3) [(i) In case of a vacancy on the county board, the Governor shall 14
appoint a qualified person to serve on the county board until a successor is elected and 15
qualifies. 16

(ii) If the vacancy occurs before the filing deadline for candidates for 17
the primary election that is held in the second year of the term, the individual appointed 18
under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall serve until a successor is elected at the next 19
general election and qualifies. 20

(iii) If the vacancy occurs after the filing deadline for can didates for 21
the primary election that is held in the second year of the term, the individual appointed 22
under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall serve for the remainder of the term of the 23
vacating member and until a successor is elected at the next general election and qualifies] 24
A VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN 25
ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 26

3–1101. 27

(a) The St. Mary’s Board consists of: 28

(1) Five voting members; and 29

(2) One student member. 30

(g) (1) Except as specified in this section, an elected member shall serve for a 31
term of 4 years. The term of each member shall commence on the first Monday in December 32
after the member’s election and shall continue until a successor is elected and qualifies. 33

34 SENATE BILL 595

(2) The term of the student member shall commence on the first Monday 1
in July and continue for 1 year. 2

(3) [If a vacancy occurs on the county board, the St. Mary’s Board of County 3
Commissioners shall appoint a qualified individual to serve for the remainder of that term 4
and until a successor is elected and qualifies] A VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF THE 5
COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 6

3–1201. 7

(a) The Somerset County Board shall be elected and consists of one member 8
elected from each commissioner district in the county. 9

(d) (1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, each 10
member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on January 1 after the member’s election 11
and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 12

(2) (i) The terms of members are staggered as provided in this 13
paragraph. 14

(ii) 1. The members elected at the 2004 election from 15
commissioner districts 1, 3, and 5 shall serve an initial term of 2 years. 16

2. An election shall b e conducted in 2006 and every 4 years 17
thereafter. 18

(iii) 1. The members elected at the 2004 election from 19
commissioner districts 2 and 4 shall serve an initial term of 4 years. 20

2. An election shall be conducted in 2008 and every 4 years 21
thereafter. 22

(3) [The Governor shall appoint a qualified individual to fill any vacancy 23
on the board for the remainder of the term and until a successor is elected and qualifies] A 24
VACANCY OF A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE 25
WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 26

3–12A–01. 27

(a) The Talbot County Board consists of: 28

(1) Seven voting members, one member elected from each of the seven 29
election districts for the county board established in accordance with this subtitle; and 30

(2) Two nonvoting student members from the public high schools in the 31
county. 32
SENATE BILL 595 35

(b) The elected members of the county board shall be elected: 1

(1) At the general election; and 2

(2) In accordance with Title 8, Subtitle 8 of the Election Law Article. 3

(c) (1) A member elected from a district shall be a resident of the district. 4

(2) A member elected or appointed from a district who no longer resides in 5
the district may not continue as a member of the county board. 6

(d) (1) The boundaries for the election districts for the county board shall be 7
established promptly following each decennial census. 8

(2) Whenever election district boundaries are to be redrawn, no later than 9
December 1 of the year prior to the year in which redistricting is to take effect, the County 10
Council shall appoint a commission on redistricting to include: 11

(i) Four individuals nominated by each political party that polled at 12
least 15 percent of the total vote cast at the immediately preceding general election; and 13

(ii) One additional individual. 14

(3) An individual who holds elective office is not eligible to be appointed to 15
the commission on redistricting. 16

(4) (i) By November 15 of the year preceding the year in which 17
redistricting is to take effect, the redistricting commission shall prepare and make available 18
a plan of election districts. 19

(ii) The election districts shall be reasonably compact, contiguous, 20
and substantially equal in population and, in accordance with legal principles established 21
by law, shall ensure that one or more of the election districts encompasses residents in 22
which a majority of the voting age population consists of racial minorities. 23

(iii) No less than 15 calendar days and no more than 45 calendar days 24
after the redistricting commission submits its plan, the County Council shall hold a public 25
hearing on the plan. 26

(iv) The redistricting plan submitted by the redistricting commission 27
becomes law 90 days after it is submitted to the County Council unless the County Council 28
enacts a different redistricting plan before that date. 29

(e) (1) Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on December 30
1 after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 31

36 SENATE BILL 595

(2) A voting member may not serve for more than three consecutive terms. 1

(f) The terms of the voting members are staggered as follows: 2

(1) One member elected from each of districts 1, 3, 4, and 7 at the 2006 3
general election, and every 4 years thereafter; and 4

(2) One member elected from each of districts 2, 5, and 6 a t the 2008 5
general election, and every 4 years thereafter. 6

(g) [(1) The Governor shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on the 7
county board until a successor is elected and qualifies at the next congressional election. 8

(2) A resident of the district in which a vacancy exists may apply for 9
appointment by the Governor to fill the vacancy] A VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF 10
THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS 11
TITLE. 12

(h) The student members shall be appointed and serve on the county board in 13
accordance with § 3–12A–06 of this subtitle. 14

3–1301. 15

(a) The Washington County Board consists of seven members. 16

(b) All seven members of the Washington County Board shall be elected from 17
Washington County at large at a general election every 4 years beginning in 1978. 18

(c) (1) Each member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the first 19
Tuesday in December after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and 20
qualifies. 21

(2) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms of the 22
members serving on the county board as of July 1, 1986. 23

(3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 24
elected and qualifies. 25

(4) [In accordance with subsection (f) of this section , the County 26
Commissioners shall appoint a qualified individual to fill any vacancy on the county board 27
for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and qualifies ] A VACANCY 28
OF A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN ACCORDANCE W ITH § 29
3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 30

(d) (1) Immediately preceding the date the member takes office, each member 31
of the county board shall be: 32
SENATE BILL 595 37

(i) A resident of Washington County for at least 6 months; and 1

(ii) A resident of the State for at least 12 months. 2

(2) (i) During the term of a member of the county board, the member 3
shall maintain a primary residence in Washington County. 4

(ii) A member of the county board who no longer maintains a 5
primary residence in Washington County may not continue as a member of the county 6
board. 7

(e) (1) The State Board may remove a member of the county board for: 8

(i) Immorality; 9

(ii) Misconduct in office; 10

(iii) Incompetency; or 11

(iv) Willful neglect of duty. 12

(2) Before removing a member, the State Board shall send the member a 13
copy of the charges against him and give him an opportunity within 10 days to request a 14
hearing. 15

(3) If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: 16

(i) The State Board promptly shall hold a hearing, bu t a hearing 17
may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the member a notice of the 18
hearing; and 19

(ii) The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly 20
before the State Board in his own defense, in person or by counsel. 21

(4) A member removed under this subsection has the right to a de novo 22
review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Washington County. 23

[(f) (1) In this subsection, “Washington County Delegation” means the 24
Senators and Delegates in the General Assembly of Maryland who are elected to represent 25
Washington County or any portion of Washington County. 26

(2) There is a Washington County School Board Nominating Commission. 27

(3) The Commission shall consist of the following six voting members: 28

38 SENATE BILL 595

(i) One member appoi nted by the Senate members of the 1
Washington County Delegation; 2

(ii) One member appointed by the Delegate members of the 3
Washington County Delegation; 4

(iii) One member appointed by the county board; and 5

(iv) The following three members appointe d by the County 6
Commissioners: 7

1. One member representing the Washington County 8
business community; 9

2. One member representing the Washington County 10
Citizens Advisory Council; and 11

3. One member representing the Washington County 12
educational community. 13

(4) (i) The Chairman of the Commission shall be a member of the public 14
appointed by the County Commissioners. 15

(ii) The Chairman may not be a member of either the county board 16
or the Washington County Delegation. 17

(iii) The Chairman is a nonvoting member of the Commission who 18
shall vote only when there is a tie vote among the voting members of the Commission. 19

(5) The County Commissioners shall provide the staff for the Commission. 20

(6) The Commission shall: 21

(i) Advertise the vacancy and provide the procedures for filling the 22
vacancy in at least one medium accessible to the general public, which includes: 23

1. A newspaper of general circulation in the region; or 24

2. An electronic posting on the local school system website; 25
and 26

(ii) Before selecting any nominees, hold at least one public hearing. 27

(7) Within 30 days of the vacancy occurring, the Commission shall submit 28
the names of no more than three nominees to the County Commissioners for their 29
consideration. 30

SENATE BILL 595 39

(8) Within 15 days after receiving the names of the nominees provided by 1
the Commission under paragraph (7) of this subsection, the County Commissioners shall 2
select an individual to fill the vacancy on the county board.] 3

3–13A–01. 4

(a) (1) The Wicomico County Board consists of: 5

(i) Seven nonpartisan elected voting members; and 6

(ii) At least one student member. 7

[3–13A–03. 8

(a) (1) There is a Wicomico County School Board Nominating Commission. 9

(2) The purpose of the Commission is to select nom inees to recommend to 10
the Wicomico County Council as qualified candidates for appointment to fill a vacancy of 11
an elected member on the Wicomico County Board. 12

(3) Within 60 days of a vacancy on the county board, the Commission shall: 13

(i) Develop and publicize criteria for choosing nominees to fill the 14
vacancy; 15

(ii) Make public the names of the candidates that apply for 16
appointment to fill a vacancy on the county board; 17

(iii) Hold at least two public hearings on the applicants for 18
appointment; and 19

(iv) Make public and submit to the County Council the names of two 20
nominees for any vacancy. 21

(4) (i) Within 60 days after the County Council receives the names of 22
the nominees from the Commission, the County Council shall hold a public hearing 23
regarding the nominees. 24

(ii) After the hearing, if the County Council deems at least one of the 25
nominees acceptable, the County Council shall vote on the nominees and fill the vacancy. 26

(iii) If the County Council deems both nominees unacceptable, the 27
County Council shall return the names to the Commission and request that the 28
Commission submit the names of at least two additional qualified nominees from which the 29
County Council shall select an individual to fill the vacancy. 30

(5) (i) The Commission consists of 14 members. 31
40 SENATE BILL 595

(ii) The members of the Commission shall be appointed from the 1
names submitted by the following organizations, entities, or communities of interest: 2

1. One member from the Wicomico County Branch of the 3
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; 4

2. One member from the Wicomico County Education 5
Association; 6

3. One member from the Wicomico County area chambers of 7
commerce, selected by the chambers by consensus; 8

4. One member from the Wicomico County Educational 9
Support Professionals Association; 10

5. One member from the Wicomico County Council of PTAs; 11

6. One member from each of the eight incorporated 12
municipalities in Wicomico County; and 13

7. One member who is a parent of a child with special needs 14
in the Wicomico County Public School System and who is affiliated with an advocacy group 15
for children with special needs in the county. 16

(6) To the extent practicable, the Commission shall reflect the gender, 17
ethnic, and racial makeup of the county. 18

(7) The County Executive of Wicomico County shall appoint the members 19
of the Commission, with the advice and consent of the County Council, from the names 20
submitted by the organizations, entities, or communities of interest listed under paragraph 21
(5) of this subsection. 22

(8) The term of a member of the Commission is 4 years. 23

(9) The Commission shall select a chair and vice chair from among the 24
members. 25

(b) The Wicomico County Public School System shall provide staff for the 26
Commission.] 27

[3–13A–04. 28

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Wicomico County 29
Council shall appoint an individual to fill a vacancy of an elected member on the county 30
board in accordance with § 3–13A–03 of this subtitle. 31

SENATE BILL 595 41

(b) (1) If a vacancy for an elected member occurs before the date that is 30 days 1
before the date for filing a certificate of candidacy for the primary election in the 2
presidential election year, the individual appointed under subsection (a) of this section shall 3
serve only until a successor is elected by the voters at the next general election. 4

(2) Candidates for the vacated office may be nominated at a primary 5
election in the same manner as for any other position on the county board.] 6

3–13A–03. 7

A VACANCY OF AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE 8
FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS TITLE. 9

[3–13A–05.] 3–13A–04. 10

(a) The State Board may remove an elected or appointed member of the county 11
board for any of the following reasons: 12

(1) Immorality; 13

(2) Misconduct in office; 14

(3) Incompetency; 15

(4) Willful neglect of duty; or 16

(5) Failure to attend, without good cause, at least 75% of the scheduled 17
meetings of the county board in any 1 calendar year. 18

(b) Before removing a member, the State Board shall send the member a copy of 19
the charges against the member and give the member an opportunity to request a hearing 20
within 10 days. 21

(c) If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: 22

(1) The State Board promptly shall hold a hearing, but a hearing may not 23
be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the member a notice of the hearing; and 24

(2) The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly before the 25
State Board in the member’s own defense in person or by counsel. 26

(d) A member removed under this section has the right to a de novo review of the 27
removal by the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. 28

[3–13A–06.] 3–13A–05. 29

42 SENATE BILL 595

At the first meeting of the county board in December of each year, the county b oard 1
shall elect a chair and vice chair from among the elected members. 2

[3–13A–07.] 3–13A–06. 3

(a) A student member of the county board shall be selected in accordance with 4
procedures established by the county board. 5

(b) (1) Each student member shall: 6

(i) Be an 11th or 12th grade student in good standing and regularly 7
enrolled in the Wicomico County public school system; 8

(ii) Serve for 1 year beginning July 1 after the selection of the 9
member; 10

(iii) Be a nonvoting member; and 11

(iv) Advise the county board on the thoughts and feelings of students 12
in the Wicomico County public schools. 13

(2) Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the 14
elected members of the county board, a student member may not attend a closed session of 15
the county board. 16

[3–13A–08.] 3–13A–07. 17

(a) (1) The chair of the county board is entitled to receive annually as 18
compensation the greater of: 19

(i) $4,000; or 20

(ii) A salary set by the Wicomico County Council. 21

(2) The vice chair of the county board and the other elected members of the 22
county board are entitled to receive annually as compensation the greater of: 23

(i) $3,700; or 24

(ii) A salary set by the Wicomico County Council. 25

(b) After submitting vouchers under the rules and regul ations adopted by the 26
county board, the elected members are entitled to receive reimbursement for travel and 27
other expenses as provided in the county board’s budget. 28

SENATE BILL 595 43

(c) (1) On the submission of expense vouchers, a student member is entitled 1
to reimburse ment for travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official 2
duties for the county board. 3

(2) A student member may be granted a scholarship as authorized by the 4
county board. 5

(3) A student member is not entitled to any compensation or payment other 6
than that specified under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection for the student member’s 7
work as a student member of the county board. 8

3–1401. 9

(a) The Worcester County Board consists of seven voting members and one 10
nonvoting student member from each public high school in the county. 11

(b) (1) The seven voting members of the Worcester County Board shall be 12
elected at a general election. 13

(2) Members of the Worcester County Board shall be elected in accordance 14
with Title 8, Subtitle 8 of the Election Law Article. 15

(c) (1) A member from a county commissioner district shall be a resident of the 16
district. 17

(2) A member from a county commissioner district who no longer resides in 18
the district may not continue as a member of the county board. 19

(3) Notwithstanding § 3–114(g) of this title or any other law, a school bus 20
contractor is eligible to serve as a member of the county board. 21

(d) Of the seven voting members of the county board, one shall be elected from 22
each of the seven county commissioner districts. 23

(e) A member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the January 1 after the 24
member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 25

(f) (1) One member shall be elected from each of the county commissioner 26
districts 1, 4, 6, and 7 at the November 2002 general election. 27

(2) One member shall be elected from each of the county commissioner 28
districts 2, 3, and 5 at the November 2004 general election. 29

(g) [(1) The county commissioners shall appoint a new member to fill any 30
vacancy on the county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected 31
and qualifies. 32

44 SENATE BILL 595

(2) A resident of the district in which a vacancy exists may apply to the 1
county commissioners to fill the vacancy. 2

(3) The county com missioners shall adopt rules for the application 3
procedure to fill a vacancy on the county board ] A VACANCY OF A VOTING MEMBER OF 4
THE COUNTY BOARD SHALL BE FILLE D IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 3–106(A) OF THIS 5
TITLE. 6

(h) (1) Each student member shall: 7

(i) Be a 12th grade student in the Worcester County public school 8
system elected by the high school students of the public school which the student attends, 9
in accordance with procedures established by the school system; 10

(ii) Serve for 1 year beginning on Jul y 1 after the election of the 11
member; 12

(iii) Be a nonvoting member; and 13

(iv) Advise the board on the interests of students. 14

(2) Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the 15
county board, the student members may not attend an executive session. 16

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
1, 2026. 18