(a) Definition. In this section “Coordinating Council” means the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.
(b) Established. There is a Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.
(c) Composition and terms of members.
(1) The Coordinating Council has 19 members.
(2) The County Council requests the following individuals to serve as ex officio members of the Coordinating Council:
(A) The Administrative Judge for District 6 of the Maryland District Court or designee of the Administrative Judge;
(B) The Administrative Judge for the Montgomery County Circuit Court or designee of the Administrative Judge;
(C) The State’s Attorney for Montgomery County or designee of the State’s Attorney;
(D) The Regional Director of the Division of Parole and Probation, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections or designee of the Regional Director;
(E) The County Sheriff or designee of the County Sheriff; and
(F) The President of the County Board of Education or designee of the President.
(3) Subject to confirmation by the County Council, the County Executive should appoint the following individuals to serve as ex officio members of the Coordinating Council:
(A) A member or designee of the County Council, selected by the Council President;
(B) The Chief of Police or designee of the Chief of Police;
(C) The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services or designee of the Director;
(D) The Executive Director of the Commission for Women or designee of the Executive Director; and
(E) The Director of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation or designee of the Director.
(4) Subject to confirmation by the County Council, the County Executive must appoint the following individuals to serve 3-year terms on the Coordinating Council:
(A) 1 attorney with experience representing victims of domestic violence;
(B) 4 members of the public with a demonstrated interest in domestic violence issues, including at least one individual who is a former victim of domestic violence; and
(C) 2 representatives from a non-governmental domestic violence service or advocacy organization serving County residents.
(5) Subject to confirmation by the County Council, the County Executive must appoint a student member to serve a 1-year term on the Coordinating Council. The student member’s term may be renewed for 1 additional year. The student member must be a high school student who resides in the County when initially appointed.
(d) Voting, officers, meetings, and compensation.
(1) All members of the Coordinating Council are voting members.
(2) The Coordinating Council must elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members to serve 2-year terms.
(3) The Coordinating Council must meet at least 4 times each year.
(4) Section 2-148 does not apply to members appointed under subsection (c)(2) and (3).
(5) Except as provided in paragraph (6), a member must serve without compensation.
(6) A member may request reimbursement for mileage and dependent care costs at rates established by the County.
(e) Duties. The Coordinating Council must:
(1) Advise the County Executive, County Council, and Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission and its members on policies, programs, and legislation necessary to prevent domestic violence and help victims and their families;
(2) Promote and facilitate an effective community-wide response to domestic violence, including a well-coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to all programs serving victims of domestic violence and their families;
(3) Coordinate with the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and all other County, State, federal, and non-governmental agencies, committees, boards, commissions, and organizations that operate, monitor, or coordinate domestic violence programs or services in the County to maximize the effectiveness of these programs and services;
(4) Develop recommendations to improve the coordination and effectiveness of County, State, federal, and non-governmental efforts regarding domestic violence, including prevention, intervention, treatment, law enforcement, prosecution, correctional, and advocacy efforts;
(5) Cooperate with the Abused Persons Program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and any other relevant departments, agencies, committees, boards, commissions, and organizations to periodically review the quality and sufficiency of programs and facilities available to domestic violence victims, offenders, and their children throughout the County.
(6) Obtain and evaluate the findings and recommendations of the County’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team established under Title 4, Subtitle 7 of the Family Law Article;
(7) Obtain and evaluate statistical data, reports, and other information related to domestic violence, including information regarding innovative efforts by other governmental and non-governmental entities, as necessary to implement the requirements of this section; and
(8) Subject to subsection (f), advocate for policies or legislation at the County, State, and federal levels that would improve efforts to address domestic violence issues, including prevention, intervention, treatment, law enforcement, prosecution, correctional, and advocacy efforts.
(f) Advocacy. The Coordinating Council may not engage in any advocacy efforts at the State or federal levels unless these efforts are approved by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.
(g) Annual Report. By September 15 each year, the Coordinating Council must submit to the County Executive and the County Council an annual report on its activities, findings, and recommendations.
(1) (A) If the County Sheriff agrees, the County Sheriff must provide the primary staff for the Coordinating Council.
(B) At the request of the County Sheriff, the State courts and agencies listed in subsection (c)(2) and the County agencies listed in subsection (c)(3) may provide additional staff assistance to the Coordinating Council.
(2) (A) If the County Sheriff does not agree to provide the primary staff for the Coordinating Council, the Chief Administrative Officer must provide appropriate staff to the Coordinating Council.
(B) The Chief Administrative Officer must consult with the individuals identified in subsection (c)(2) and (3) to determine the staffing needs of the Coordinating Council.
(C) The Chief Administrative Officer may authorize an individual identified in subsection (c)(2) to provide staff to the Coordinating Council. (, § 1; , § 1; , § 1; , § 1.)
Editor’s note—2005 L.M.C., ch. 31, § 2, states: Transition. The County Executive may stagger the initial terms of the members appointed under Section 2-59(c)(4) so that approximately one-third of the terms of these members expire each year.
Former Section 2-59, relating to the civil defense advisory board, was repealed by § 1 of FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 9. The section had been derived from Mont. Co. Code 1965, §§ 2-82, 2-86; 1969 L.M.C., ch. 34, § 20; 1973 L.M.C., ch. 2, § 2; and 1977 L.M.C., ch. 28, § 2.
