(a)      (1)      There is a Partnership for Workforce Quality Advisory Board as part of the Department of Business and Economic Development.

            (2)      (i)      The Board shall consult on a regular basis with the Work Force Investment Board and Commission concerning the activities of the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program.

                  (ii)      The Board shall submit a quarterly report on the Program to the Work Force Investment Board.

            (3)      The Board consists of 15 members, appointed by the Governor, with the advice of the Secretary of Business and Economic Development and the Chairman of the Work Force Investment Board.

            (4)      The Board membership shall include:

                  (i)      5 representatives of business of which 3 shall be representatives of employers with fewer than 100 employees;

                  (ii)      3 representatives of organized labor;

                  (iii)      2 representatives of the general public;

                  (iv)      1 member of the Senate of Maryland to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

                  (v)      1 member of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

                  (vi)      1 representative each from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the State Department of Education, and the Work Force Investment Board.

      (b)      (1)      Except those who serve ex officio, appointments as members of the Board shall be for 3 years.

            (2)      The terms of the members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 1989.

            (3)      At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

            (4)      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.

            (5)      Each member of the Board shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations.

      (c)      The Governor shall select the chairman of the Board.

      (d)      The Board shall be advisory to the Secretary. The duties of the Board shall be to:

            (1)      Submit recommendations to the Secretary concerning overall program policy for the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program;

            (2)      Recommend a system for evaluating requests for assistance under the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program, including eligibility criteria and priorities for assistance;

            (3)      Develop criteria to assess and evaluate Program performance and advise the Secretary of such criteria; and

            (4)      Advise the Secretary on coordination of partnership activities at the State and local level between the Department, business, labor, and other public and private entities involved with workforce quality.

      (e)      The Board, in recommending a system for evaluating requests for assistance, shall give due consideration to the equal distribution of assistance to all subdivisions of the State.