EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Title
Baltimore City Commission for Women - Reconstitution
FOR the purpose of reviving and reconstituting the Baltimore City Commission for Women; providing for the appointment and term of members; providing for staff to the Commission; restating the Commission's powers and duties; correcting, clarifying, and conforming certain language; and providing for a special effective date.
Body
BY repealing and reordaining, with amendments
Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies
Section(s) 20-1 through 20-5, inclusive
Baltimore City Code
(Edition 2000)
SECTION 1. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Code
Article 1. Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies
Subtitle 20. Baltimore City Commission for Women
§ 20-1. [Establishment; composition] COMMISSION ESTABLISHED.
(a) In general.
There is a Baltimore City Commission for Women[,].
(B) COMPOSITION.
[which shall consist of 25 members who are residents of Baltimore City] THE COMMISSION COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING 19 MEMBERS:
(1) 14 MEMBERS, 1 TO BE APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE 14 DISTRICT MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL;
(2) 2 MEMBERS, TO BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL; AND
(3) 3 MEMBERS, TO BE appointed by the Mayor in accordance with Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter.
(c) [(b)] Appointment without regard to political affiliation.
[Members shall be appointed] THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS MUST BE MADE without regard to political affiliation.
§ 20-2. Terms, compensation, vacancies.
(a) Terms of office.
(1) [Commissioners] MEMBERS serve for a term of 4 years, concurrent with the [Mayor's term] TERMS of [office] THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
(2) AT THE END OF A TERM, A MEMBER CONTINUES TO SERVE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES.
(b) Compensation; EXPENSES.
Members OF THE COMMISSION:
(1) [shall receive no] ARE NOT ENTITLED TO compensation for their services; BUT
(2) ARE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED, AS PROVIDED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES.
(c) Vacancies.
[(1) Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled by the Mayor pursuant to Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter.
(2) A member serves until his or her successor is appointed and qualifies.
(3)] A member appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term or to succeed a member who is holding over serves only for the remainder of that term.
§ 20-3. [Organization; meetings] OFFICERS; COMMITTEES.
(a) Officers.
(1) The MAYOR SHALL DESIGNATE A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION TO SERVE AS ITS [Chairperson] CHAIR [of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor from a list of candidates who are Commission members submitted to him by the Commission].
(2) Members of the Commission may select any other officers they [deem] CONSIDER necessary OR APPROPRIATE.
(b) Committees.
[(1) The Chairperson of the Commission may, with the approval of the majority of the Commission members, appoint committees to assist in carrying out any of the functions and duties of the Commission. Any committees thus appointed shall consist of not less than 3 members.
(2) The Chairperson may also appoint advisory committees of citizens and at least 1 Commission member.
(3) Regular or advisory committee actions shall not be deemed to be the action of the Commission unless expressly ratified.]
THE CHAIR MAY APPOINT COMMITTEES TO ASSIST THE COMMISSION IN CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.
§ 20-4. MEETINGS; QUORUM.
(A) [(c) Meetings; quorum] IN GENERAL.
(1) The Commission shall meet at the call of the [Chairperson] CHAIR as frequently as required to perform its duties[, but not less than once each month].
(2) A majority of the members of the Commission [shall constitute] CONSTITUTES a quorum for the transaction of business.
(3) [and an] AN affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum [shall be sufficient] IS NEEDED for any official action.
(B) RULES OF PROCEDURE.
[(3)] The Commission may adopt [a set of] rules OF PROCEDURE to govern its [own] meetings and procedures.
(C) [(d)] Failure to attend meetings.
If any member is absent FROM REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS more than 3 times in 1 year, not counting absences excused by the [Commission Chairperson,] CHAIR [the Chairperson shall recommend to the Mayor that the member's appointment be terminated]:
(1) THE MEMBER IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE RESIGNED; AND
(2) THE CHAIR SHALL REQUEST THAT MEMBER'S APPOINTING AUTHORITY TO FILL THE RESULTANT VACANCY.
§ 20-5. [§ 20-4.] Personnel; BUDGET.
(a) Executive Director.
(1) The [Mayor shall] COMMISSION MAY appoint a properly qualified person as Executive Director of the Commission[, to be an officer of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, in accordance with Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter, for a term of 4 years].
(2) The Executive Director [thus appointed shall receive such] IS ENTITLED TO A salary, as [may be] provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.
(3) The Executive Director shall perform the duties [prescribed by] THAT the Commission PRESCRIBES.
(b) Staff[; budget].
(1) The Executive Director [shall be authorized to] MAY employ [such assistants] A STAFF as [shall be necessary to carry out her or his duties] PROVIDED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES.
(2) [Such assistants] STAFF MEMBERS shall be members of the classified service.
[(2) The Executive Director shall expend such funds as may be provided in the Ordinance of Estimates.]
(c) Volunteers.
The Commission may engage the services of volunteer workers and consultants, without salary, as [they may deem] IT CONSIDERS necessary from time to time.
(D) BUDGET.
THE DIRECTOR MAY EXPEND FUNDS AS AUTHORIZED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES OR IN ANY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS.
§ 20-6. [§ 20-5.] Powers and duties.
(A) IN GENERAL.
The Baltimore City Commission for Women [is empowered to] SHALL undertake the [following:] ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.
(B) DEVELOP REFERRAL SYSTEM.
[(1)] THE COMMISSION SHALL:
(1) develop an information and referral system for all services in the City related to women[ and
(2) recommend other services when a need for [such services] THEM is determined[;].
(C) PROVIDE FOCUS AND FORUM FOR AMELIORATION.
[(2)] THE COMMISSION SHALL serve as the focus and forum for the identification and amelioration of the unique problems faced by women in our society and on any practice of discrimination or prejudice that exists because of gender[;].
(D) CONDUCT RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
(1) [(3)] THE COMMISSION SHALL:
(I) conduct research, policy analysis, and public information and education programs and activities to assist in addressing the needs of women; and
(II) [to] institute and conduct other programs, meetings, and conferences to promote equal rights and opportunities for all women.
(2) [Such] THESE programs and activities shall address the special needs of women related to race, age, national origin, religious preference, disability, sexual preference, physical characteristics, marital status, reproductive health, and economic status[;].
(E) REVIEW AND MONITOR WORKFORCE.
[(4)] THE COMMISSION SHALL:
(1) review and monitor the conditions of women in the workforce in Baltimore City[,];
(2) [and to] make recommendations promoting equal pay for work of equal value and equitable representation by women in all job levels; and
(3) [to] direct attention to the problems facing women in the workforce[;].
(F) ADVISE AND COUNSEL.
[(5)] THE COMMISSION SHALL:
(1) advise and counsel the residents of Baltimore City, the City Council, the Mayor, and the various departments and agencies of the City, state, and federal governments on all matters involving women's lives; and
(2) [to] recommend [such] programs and legislation [as] it [deems] CONSIDERS necessary and proper to promote and ensure equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal access to services for all persons regardless of gender[;].
(G) EVALUATE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.
[(6)] THE COMMISSION SHALL review and evaluate the impact of existing and proposed policies and programs and legislation affecting women[;].
(H) SEEK TO REMOVE INEQUALITIES.
[(7)] THE COMMISSION SHALL work to remove inequalities due to discrimination or prejudice on the basis of gender in [such areas as] housing, recreation, employment, education, community services, criminal justice, financing, credit, insurance, and related matters[; and].
(I) MONITOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
[(8)] THE COMMISSION SHALL monitor City government so as to ensure the equitable representation of women on all City boards and commissions.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That this Ordinance takes effect on the date it is enacted.
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