(a) There is a Green and Blue Infrastructure Policy Advisory Commission.

(b) The purpose of the Commission is to advise the Secretary, the BayStat Subcabinet, and local government officials on ways to facilitate and accelerate the scale and pace of implementation of green and blue infrastructure projects in the State, including projects designed to:

(1) Reduce nutrient and sediment loads entering the Chesapeake Bay;

(2) Sequester nutrients already in the Chesapeake Bay;

(3) Improve climate resilience;

(4) Sequester carbon;

(5) Protect and restore important terrestrial or aquatic habitats;

(6) Restore streams or wetlands;

(7) Build living shorelines;

(8) Augment or restore shellfish populations; or

(9) Restore forest or agricultural lands.

(c) The Commission consists of the following members, appointed by the Secretary in consultation with the other members of the BayStat Subcabinet:

(1) Four representatives of local government who represent different regions of the State and who are responsible for implementing ecological restoration projects, of whom two shall represent county governments and two shall represent municipal governments;

(2) Two representatives of private ecological restoration companies that regularly work in the State;

(3) Two representatives of companies that invest private capital in ecological restoration projects;

(4) Two representatives of nonprofit organizations that are knowledgeable about green or blue infrastructure and advocate on behalf of the public’s interest in the State’s natural resources;

(5) One representative of the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center;

(6) One representative of the Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory, Morgan State University, recommended by the Research Laboratory;

(7) Two members of the public who have a documented and continuing interest in ecological restoration; and

(8) Two representatives of State agencies who are responsible for implementing green or blue infrastructure projects.

(d) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, the membership of the Commission reflects the geographic, racial, gender, and cultural diversity of the State.

(e) From among the Commission members, the Secretary shall designate:

(1) One of the State agency representatives to serve as cochair; and

(2) One of the local government representatives to serve as cochair.

(f) A member of the Commission:

(1) May not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but

(2) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.