TITLE 14 Workers Compensation Commission Subtitle 9 General Regulations Chapter 08 Open Meetings .01 Scope .02 Definitions.

Transcription

1 TITLE 14 Workers Compensation Commission Subtitle 9 General Regulations Chapter 08 Open Meetings Authority: Labor and Employment (a); State Government Article, (b), Annotated Code of Maryland.01 Scope. This Chapter applies to the open meetings of the Workers Compensation Commission..02 Definitions. A. In this Chapter, the Following Terms have the meanings indicated. B. Terms Defined. (1) "Commission" means the Workers Compensation Commission. (2) "Open Meeting" means any meeting of the Commission required by to be open to the public by State Government Article , Annotated Code of Maryland.

2 (3) "Public Body" means the entity defined in State Government Article, (h), Annotated Code of Maryland..03 Public Attendance. A. At any open meeting of the Commission, the public is invited to listen and observe. B. Unless the Commission expressly invites public testimony, questions, comments, or other forms of public participation, or when public participation is otherwise authorized by law, a member of the public attending an open meeting may not actively participate in the meeting..04 Prohibited Conduct or Activity A. An individual attending an open meeting of the Commission ma y not engage in conduct, including visual demonstrations such as the waving of placards, signs or banners, that disrupts the session or interferes with the opportunity of members of the public to attend and observe. B. The Presiding Officer may: (1) Order an individual who persists in conduct prohibited in A of this regulation, or who violates another regulation concerning conduct of the open meeting, to be removed from the meeting; (2) Request police or other assistance to restore order; and (3) Recess the meeting while order is restored.

3 .05 Recording, Photographing, and Broadcasting of Open Meetings. A. A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may record discussions of the Commission at an open meeting by means of tape recorder or another recording device, if the device: (1) Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs member of the Commission or any individual attending the meeting; (2) Does not otherwise interfere with an individual s observation or participation in the meeting; and (3) Is operated openly so that it is obvious to those in attendance that the meeting is being recorded. B. A member of the public, including a representative of the news media, may photograph or videotape the proceedings of the Commission at an open meeting by means of any type of camera, if the camera: (1) Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the Commission or other individuals attending the open meeting; (2) Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the Commission or any individual attending the meeting; (3) Does not otherwise interfere with an individual s observation or participation in the meeting; and

4 (4) Is operated openly so that it is obvious to those in attendance that the meeting is being photographed. C. A representative of the news media may broadcast or televise the proceedings of the Commission at an open meeting if the equipment used: (1) Is operated without excessively bright artificial light that disturbs members of the Commission or other individuals attending the open meeting; (2) Does not create an excessive noise that disturbs members of the Commission or any individual attending the meeting; (3) Does not otherwise interfere with an individual's observation of or participation in the meeting; and (4) Is operated openly so that it is obvious to those in attendance that the meeting is being broadcast or televised. D. The presiding officer may restrict movement of a person who is using a recording device, camera, or broadcasting or television equipment if such restriction is necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the open meeting. E. A public body of the Commission may require that an individual who intends to record, photograph, videotape, broadcast, or televise an open meeting register in advance of the beginning of the meeting.

5 .06 Recordings, Photograph, Videotapes - Not Part of Record. A recording, photograph, or videotape of an open session made by a member of the public, or any transcript derived from such a recording, may not be deemed a part of the record or any proceeding of the Commission.