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 Reisinger
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE concerning
title
Mayor's Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission - Establishment
FOR the purpose of establishing the Mayor's Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission; defining certain terms; providing for the composition of the Advisory Commission; establishing the duties of the Advisory Commission; and generally relating to efforts to eradicate animal abuse in Baltimore.
body
BY adding
Article 1 - Mayor, City Council, and Municipal Agencies
Section(s) 55-1 to 55-13, to be under the new subtitle,
"Subtitle 55. Mayor's Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission "
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 55. MAYOR'S ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE ADVISORY COMMISSION
§ 55-1. DEFINITIONS.
(A) IN GENERAL.
IN THIS SUBTITLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED.
(B) ADVISORY COMMISSION.
"ADVISORY COMMISSION" MEANS THE MAYOR'S ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE ADVISORY COMMISSION ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.
§ 55-2. COMMISSION ESTABLISHED.
THERE IS A MAYOR'S ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE ADVISORY COMMISSION.
§ 55-3. ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP.
(A) IN GENERAL.
(1) THE ADVISORY COMMISSION CONSISTS OF 30 MEMBERS.
(2) OF THESE:
(I) 23 MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE IV, § 6 OF THE BALTIMORE CITY CHARTER; AND
(II) 7 MEMBERS ARE AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES.
(B) APPOINTED MEMBERS.
THE 23 APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(1) 1 MEMBER FROM EACH OF THE 14 CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
(2) 1 MEMBER REPRESENTING EACH OF THE FOLLOWING 4 ORGANIZATIONS:
(I) MARYLAND SPCA;
(II) THE SNYDER FOUNDATION FOR ANIMALS;
(III) THE ASPCA; AND
(IV) THE BALTIMORE ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE SHELTER.
(3) 3 AT-LARGE MEMBERS.
(4) 1 MEMBER NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
(5) 1 CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
(C) AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES.
THE 7 AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES ARE THE FOLLOWING, OR THEIR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES:
(1) THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL CONTROL;
(2) THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER;
(3) THE DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE SERVICES;
(4) THE MAYOR;
(5) THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL;
(6) THE STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR BALTIMORE CITY; AND
(7) THE POLICE COMMISSIONER.
(D) APPOINTMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS MUST BE MADE WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFILIATION.
§ 55 4. TERMS, COMPENSATION, VACANCIES.
(A) TERMS OF OFFICE.
(1) ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS SERVE FOR A TERM OF 4 YEARS, CONCURRENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
(2) AT THE END OF A TERM, AN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBER CONTINUES TO SERVE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES.
(3) ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS MAY BE REAPPOINTED, BUT MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN 3 TERMS.
(B) COMPENSATION; EXPENSES.
MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION:
(1) 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.
A MEMBER APPOINTED TO FILL A VACANCY IN AN UNEXPIRED TERM SERVES ONLY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THAT TERM.
§ 55 5. OFFICERS; COMMITTEES.
(A) OFFICERS.
(1) THE MAYOR MUST DESIGNATE A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION TO SERVE AS ITS CHAIR.
(2) MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY SELECT ANY OTHER OFFICERS THEY CONSIDER NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE.
(B) COMMITTEES.
THE CHAIR MAY APPOINT COMMITTEES TO ASSIST THE ADVISORY COMMISSION IN CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES.
§ 55 6. MEETINGS; QUORUM.
(A) IN GENERAL.
(1) THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETS ONCE PER MONTH.
(2) THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY HOLD ADDITIONAL MEETINGS, AT THE CALL OF THE CHAIR, AS FREQUENTLY AS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES.
(3) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION CONSTITUTES A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS.
(4) AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BY THE MAJORITY OF A QUORUM IS NEEDED FOR ANY OFFICIAL ACTION.
(B) RULES OF PROCEDURE.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY ADOPT RULES OF PROCEDURE TO GOVERN ITS MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES.
(C) 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 CHAIR:
(1) THE MEMBER IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE RESIGNED; AND
(2) THE CHAIR MUST REQUEST THAT THE MEMBER'S APPOINTING AUTHORITY FILL THE RESULTANT VACANCY.
§ 55-7. {RESERVED}
§ 55 8. VOLUNTEERS.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS AND CONSULTANTS, WITHOUT SALARY.
§ 55 9. BUDGET.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY EXPEND FUNDS AS AUTHORIZED IN THE ORDINANCE OF ESTIMATES.
§ 55 10. POWERS AND DUTIES.
(A) IN GENERAL.
THE MAYOR'S ANTI-ANIMAL ABUSE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY UNDERTAKE THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION.
(B) RESEARCH AND ADVISE.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY AGENCIES ON EACH TOPIC:
(1) WAYS TO ERADICATE ANIMAL ABUSE IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, INCLUDING DOGFIGHTING;
(2) METHODS OF INCREASING AWARENESS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY LAWS;
(3) LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ANIMALS AND PROSECUTE ABUSERS;
(4) TRAINING TECHNIQUES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ON HOW TO HANDLE ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES HUMANELY AND TO ENSURE ACQUISITION OF THE BEST EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE ABUSERS;
(5) STEPS TO FOSTER IMPROVED RESPONSES TO INCIDENTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY; AND
(6) METHODS TO IMPROVE TRAINING FOR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS FOR THEIR PROTECTION AS WELL AS THE ANIMALS.
(C) MONITOR PROGRAMS.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY:
(1) REVIEW AND MONITOR THE SUCCESSES AND LESSONS LEARNED IN IMPLEMENTING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS; AND
(2) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS TARGETING ANIMAL ABUSE.
(D) EVALUATE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MAY REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF EXISTING AND PROPOSED POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND LEGISLATION AFFECTING THE EFFORT TO ERADICATE ANIMAL ABUSE IN BALTIMORE.
§ 55-11. {RESERVED}
§ 55 12. AGENCY ASSISTANCE.
AT THE REQUEST OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION, ALL CITY OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES MUST EXTEND THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES REQUIRED FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION'S DUTIES, TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO DO SO GIVEN THEIR PERSONNEL AND BUDGETS.
§ 55 13. ANNUAL REPORTS.
THE ADVISORY COMMISSION MUST SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON ITS ACTIVITIES TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
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 30th day after the date it is enacted.
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