Sec. 01.01.2009.18. Maryland Alcohol Safety Action Program Committee

A. Established. There is a Maryland Alcohol Safety Action Program Committee. The Committee's mission is to develop a Maryland Alcohol Safety Action Program (MASAP).

B. Membership.

(1) The Committee shall consist of the following members:

(a) One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(b) One member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(c) Two members of the Department of Transportation, one from the Motor Vehicle Administration and one from the State Highway Administration, both appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation;

(d) A representative of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;

(e) A representative of the Division of Parole and Probation, appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services;

(f) A representative from the Maryland District Court, appointed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland;

(g) A representative of the Department of State Police, appointed by the Superintendent of State Police;

(h) Two local health department officers, one from a rural jurisdiction and one from an urban jurisdiction, to be appointed by the Maryland Association of County Health Officers;

(i) A representative from the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association;

(j) A representative from the Maryland Sheriffs' Association;

(k) Two experts in the treatment of individuals with alcohol-abuse problems, appointed by the Governor;

(l) A representative of the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association; and

(m) A representative of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender.

(2) The Governor shall designate the Chair and/or Co-chairs from among the Committee membership.

C. Procedures. The following procedures apply to the Committee:

(1) Members of the Committee may not receive any compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations, and as provided in the State budget.

(2) The majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business.

(3) The Committee may adopt such other procedures as may be necessary to ensure the orderly transaction of business, including the creation of subcommittees.

(4) The Chair, with the consent of the Committee members, may designate individuals, including interested citizens, elected officials, educators, or specialists with relevant expertise, to serve on any subcommittee.

(5) The Committee may consult with State and local agencies, other states, and others to obtain such technical assistance and advice as it deems necessary to complete its duties.

(6) The Committee shall meet at least four times per year and subcommittees shall meet as necessary to complete their duties.

D. Purpose. The Committee shall have the following objectives:

(1) Identify, study, and recommend an organizational framework for a MASAP, including consideration of whether it should be organized within a commission that would report directly to the Governor or through an existing department.

(2) Develop an implementation plan inclusive of implementation methods for a comprehensive program to track Driving Under the Influence/Driving While Impaired (DUI/DWI) offenders across agencies from the time of arrest through a sufficient period of time following completion of sentence and treatment to assess the effectiveness of those measures.

E. Duties. The Committee shall have the following duties:

(1) Recommend resources to operate a MASAP as a no-cost program to the State, funded by offender fees rather than tax dollars.

(2) Develop a business plan for establishing a MASAP, including a proposal for coordinating existing programs and establishing needed additional program components, such as a statewide network of Alcohol Safety Action Programs that can:

(a) Provide judges with knowledge and services which enhance their ability to dispose of DUI/DWI offenders and other cases in a manner appropriate to community and offender needs;

(b) Establish effective treatment referral criteria and processes;

(c) Identify existing education and treatment programs and /or develop additional programs, both public and private, in areas where such services are unavailable or deficient; and

(d) Identify funding sources available for local law enforcement training and assistance.

(3) Develop a short-term and a long-term MASAP implementation plan, including local pilot sites and regular evaluations and recommendations for phasing in a one-year, two-year, and five to ten-year schedule of implementation.

(4) Develop proposed legislation, as necessary, that may be needed to affect the implementation plan for a MASAP.

(5) Perform additional duties as assigned or deemed necessary.

F. Staffing. The Department of Transportation shall provide staff efforts for the Committee and all Executive Department agencies shall cooperate with and assist the Committee in carrying out its responsibilities.

G. Reports. The Maryland Alcohol Safety Action Program Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2010 in accordance with Section 2-1246 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Effective date: December 8, 2009