(a) The Council consists of the following members: (1) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;(2) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;(3) the Governor's appointed Senior Advisor on Film, Television, and Entertainment;(4) the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee;(5) the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary's designee;(6) the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the Secretary's designee; and(7) the following 19 members appointed by the Governor, in consultation with the Secretary: (i) one expert in the business of the film, television, and entertainment industry, such as an executive, a producer, a studio representative, or an individual holding a leadership role within the industry;(ii) one expert in workforce development or higher education related to the film, television, and entertainment industry;(iii) one expert in emerging technologies or specialties of the film, television, and entertainment industry, such as an expert in gaming, artificial intelligence, visual effects, animation, postproduction, or another related specialty;(iv) one expert in legal or policy fields specific to the film, television, and entertainment industry;(v) one representative of the independent film and television community;(vi) one representative of nongovernmental entities or philanthropic institutions that support film, television, or entertainment directly or creative economies more broadly;(vii) one representative of organized labor in the entertainment industry; and(viii) 12 individuals who have general experience in the film, television, or entertainment industries.(b)(1) The Governor may appoint up to three additional individuals as honorary cochairs of the Council who are: (i) individuals with extraordinary cultural capital and commanding significant influence within the film, television, and entertainment industry;(ii) business leaders commanding a significant stake within the film, television, and entertainment industry; or(iii) individuals who have defined the current cultural brand of the film, television, and entertainment industry within the State.(2) An individual appointed as an honorary cochair of the Council shall be a nonvoting member of the Council whose responsibilities shall be limited to the promotion and business development of Maryland's film, television, and entertainment industry.(c)(1)(i) The term of a member under subsection (a)(7) of this section is 2 years and begins on July 1.(ii) A member of the General Assembly appointed to the Council serves until a successor is appointed.(2)(i) This paragraph applies only to a member appointed under subsection (a)(7) of this section.(ii) A member may be reappointed, but after serving for three consecutive 2-year terms, a member may not be reappointed until at least 1 year after the end of the member's previous tenure.(iii) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Council on July 1, 2024.(iv) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor has been appointed and qualifies.(v) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.(d) In appointing members, the Governor shall provide, to the extent practicable, balanced geographic representation.Added by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 70,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2024.