(a)      In this section, "board" means a public defender regional advisory board.

      (b)      (1)      There are four public defender regional advisory boards.

            (2)      Each board shall be composed of five members, of which three shall constitute a quorum for all business.

            (3)      The first board shall advise public defender districts one, eight, and nine, which encompass Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Harford County.

            (4)      The second board shall advise public defender districts two and three, which encompass Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, Worcester, Caroline, Talbot, Queen Anne's, Kent, and Cecil counties.

            (5)      The third board shall advise public defender districts four, five, and seven, which encompass Charles, St. Mary's, Calvert, Prince George's, and Anne Arundel counties.

            (6)      The fourth board shall advise public defender districts six, ten, eleven, and twelve, which encompass Montgomery, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties.

            (7)      Each member shall be a judge of the circuit court, a judge of the District Court, or an active attorney at law admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland.

            (8)      A member of a board shall be a resident of a district represented by that board and shall be appointed by the Governor for a term of 3 years.

            (9)      Any vacancy occurring on a board during the term of any member shall be filled by the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

            (10)      The Governor shall annually designate a chairman of each board, who shall preside over and represent the interests of that board in carrying out the provisions of this article.

      (c)      Each board shall hold at least one regular annual meeting at a time and place to be designated by the chairman. Additional meetings may be called upon notice by the chairman, the Public Defender or district public defender from a district represented by that board, or upon the request of any three members of the board.

      (d)      Each board shall study and observe the operation of the district public defender offices, and shall advise the Public Defender and the district public defenders with respect to panels of attorneys, fees, and any other matters pertaining to the operation of each district public defender office and the Public Defender system.

      (e)      Members of each board shall serve without compensation, except that they shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel, actually incurred in the performance of their duties.