(a) Open Meetings Act – additional requirements. A group must comply with the requirements under this section, in addition to the requirements under the state Open Meetings Act, Title 3 of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code, as amended.
(b) Notices of meetings.
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (3), a group must publish the notice required under Section 3-302 of the Open Meetings Act:
(A) within 5 business days after the group has determined the meeting date; and
(B) at least 2 calendar days before the meeting.
(2) If a meeting will include virtual access, the group must publish how the public may attend the meeting virtually.
(3) If the requirements of paragraph (1) cannot be met due to an emergency, a group must:
(A) publish the notice at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting; and
(B) indicate in the notice that the meeting is an emergency meeting.
(c) Meeting agendas.
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), a group must publish the agenda of a meeting under Section 3-302.1 of the Open Meetings Act:
(A) within 5 business days after the group has determined the agenda; and
(B) at least 2 calendar days before the meeting.
(2) If the requirements of paragraph (1) cannot be met due to an emergency, a group must:
(A) publish the agenda at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting; and
(B) indicate on the agenda that the meeting is an emergency meeting.
(3) If the requirements of paragraph (2) cannot be met due to an emergency declared by the Governor of Maryland or the County Executive, a group must:
(A) publish the agenda as soon as practicable in advance of the meeting; and
(B) indicate on the agenda that the meeting is an emergency meeting.
(d) Meeting minutes and recordings.
(1) Within 5 business days after it meets, a group must publish, if the group recorded the full meeting, a file of the recording, or a link to the recording.
(2) Within 5 business days after approving meeting minutes, a group must publish the approved minutes under Section 3-306 of the Open Meetings Act.
(e) Compliance and reporting requirements.
(1) The County department or office assigned to staff a group must ensure the group’s compliance with the requirements of this section.
(2) A group member, or member of the public, may complain to an office or department designated by the County Executive if a group does not comply with the requirements of this section.
(3) The designated office or department:
(A) may consult with the group, and staff assigned to the group, to address compliance issues under this section; and
(B) must report in writing to the Council, on a quarterly basis, regarding complaints received under this section and the resolutions of those complaints.
(4) Nothing in this Section prevents an individual from submitting a complaint to the state Open Meetings Compliance Board under the state Open Meetings Act, Title 3 of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code, as amended. (2023 L.M.C., ch. 9, §1.)