(a) Committee established. The Public Election Fund Committee is 7 members appointed by the County Council for a 4-year term beginning on May 1 of the first year of the Council’s term of office. A vacancy occurring before the end of a term must be filled by appointment for the remainder of the term. The Council must ask the County Executive to recommend within 30 days one or more qualified applicants before making any appointment.
(b) Membership; officers.
(1) Each member must be a resident of the County while serving on the Committee.
(2) No more than 3 members may be from the same political party.
(3) The members should reflect the diversity of the County.
(4) The Council must designate the chair and vice-chair.
(c) Compensation. Each member must serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and dependent care expenses.
(d) Duties. The Committee must:
(1) estimate the funds necessary to implement the public campaign finance system; and
(2) conduct public outreach and education activities to raise awareness of the public campaign financing system.
(e) Annual report. The Committee must issue a report to the Council on or before January 30 each year that:
(1) identifies the estimated funds necessary to implement the public campaign financing system;
(2) recommends an appropriation to the Public Election Fund for the following fiscal year; and
(3) the public outreach and education activities undertaken in the prior calendar year.
(f) Staff support. The Executive Director of the Office of the County Council must provide staff support for the Committee. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 28, § 2; 2019 L.M.C., ch. 23, §1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 31, §1; 2021 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1.)