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The Commission has the following duties:
(a) review programs and services for people with disabilities, including identifying unmet needs and gaps in services;
(b) identify, analyze, and evaluate barriers to programs and services for people with disabilities;
(c) review reports and publications of government agencies providing services to people with disabilities;
(d) review federal, state and local legislation that concerns or would affect people with disabilities;
(e) study ways to maximize the use of facilities and services available to people with disabilities;
(f) conduct open meetings to provide direct communication among people with disabilities, private and public organizations, and the general public regarding programs and services for people with disabilities;
(g) initiate conferences of interagency planning group and create special task forces to identify and assess needs and promote the coordination of services among public and private agencies, departments, and organizations that provide services and programs for people with disabilities;
(h) identify and recommend to the County Executive and the County Council appropriate sources of state and federal funding for services and programs for people with disabilities;
(i) make recommendations for procedures, programs, and legislation to promote the well- being of people with disabilities;
(j) submit an annual report by November 1 each year to the County Council and the County Executive that includes:
(1) the status of services and programs for people with disabilities in the County;
(2) recommendations for the more effective delivery of services and programs to people with disabilities; and
(3) annual budget and policy priorities for delivery of services to people with disabilities;
(k) advise the Department of Health and Human Services in carrying out the duties and responsibilities imposed by federal laws affecting people with disabilities; and
(l) make recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services about the County's contribution to programs and services for people with disabilities. (1979 L.M.C., ch. 4, § 2; 1979 L.M.C., ch. 20, § 3; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1.)
Editor's note—See County Attorney Opinion dated 4/21/04 discussing the limited authority of the Commission on People with Disabilities and the role of the County Attorney as the legal advisor for the County.
Section 5 of 1995 L.M.C., ch. 13, reads as follows: "Sec. 5. A regulation that implements a function assigned to the Department of Health and Human Services by 1995 LMC ch. 13 continues in effect but is amended to the extent necessary to provide that the regulation is administered by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services."
The Commission must not engage in any advocacy activity at the State or federal levels unless that activity is approved by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations. (2016 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)
(a) Establishing the Committee. The Committee for Ethnic Affairs is established for an indefinite term.
(b) Membership.
(1) All members must be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council.
(2) There must be 26 members, of whom:
(A) 14 are identified with ethnic groups in the County; and
(B) 12 are identified with the general public, including the business and education communities.
(c) Terms of members. Each member must be appointed for a 3-year term that begins on April 1, except for a member appointed to complete an unexpired term.
(d) Chairperson. The Committee must elect a chairperson. The chairperson serves a one- year term, unless reelected. (1985 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 1; 1990 L.M.C., ch. 47, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 23, § 1.)
The Committee should:
(a) create a forum for all ethnic groups in the County, help to integrate diverse communities in the County, and identify existing and potential problems and possible solutions.
(b) advise the County Executive, County Council, and the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs on public policy that relates to ethnic affairs;
(c) emphasize the richness of the lingual and cultural diversity in the County, including the promotion of interaction and interchange among ethnic groups;
(d) advise the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs about the organization of an annual heritage festival to celebrate ethnic diversity in the County;
(e) advise the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs about ways of introducing and welcoming permanent and temporary residents from other countries to the County and integrating them into the community;
(f) advise the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs about special needs of ethnic groups for public services, including interpreters, health, housing, employment, and education, and monitor any programs that provide these services;
(g) advise the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs about providing information in as many languages as possible;
(h) advise the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs about promoting involvement of all ethnic groups in the government, business, and community affairs of the County; and
(i) communicate with the Maryland State Ethnic Heritage Commission and other comparable public and private organizations. (1985 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 1; 1990 L.M.C., ch. 47, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 23, § 1; 2005 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.)
(a) The Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs must:
(1) organize an annual ethnic heritage festival; and
(2) provide for citizen participation in the festival planning.
(b) The Committee should assist the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs in planning the festival. (1985 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 1; 1990 L.M.C., ch. 47, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 23, § 1.)
(a) By December 1 each year, the Committee must report to the County Executive, the County Council, and the Office of Minority and Multicultural Affairs.
(b) The report must include a summary of the activities, accomplishments, plans, and objectives of the Committee. (1985 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 1; 1990 L.M.C., ch. 47, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 23, § 1.)
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