The Committee shall:
(1) Advise the Secretary regarding regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this title; (2)(i) Conduct an annual review of the assessment protocols adopted under § 9.5-301 of this title; and(ii) Report to the Secretary regarding any proposed changes to an assessment protocol or a replacement of a protocol; (3)(i) In consultation with the Secretary and the Secretary of Natural Resources, review the qualifications of the qualified independent assessor; and(ii) Report to the Secretary any proposed changes to the qualifications of the qualified independent assessor;(4) Review invasive plant species assessments conducted in accordance with § 9.5-301 of this title to advise the Secretary on which plants to classify as prohibited invasive plants for inclusion on the Consolidated List of Maryland Invasive Plant Species; and(5)(i) Review any data submitted to the Committee that indicates a cultivar, selection, or infra-specific hybrid of a prohibited invasive plant is not invasive; and(ii) If the data submitted under item (i) of this item is deemed accurate and sufficient, advise the Secretary to declassify or preemptively not classify the cultivar, selection, or infra-specific hybrid as a prohibited invasive plant.Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 590,Sec. 1, eff. 6/1/2024.Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 589,Sec. 1, eff. 6/1/2024.