There is a State Board for Professional Land Surveyors in the Department.

The Board consists of 6 members. Of the 6 members of the Board: 3 shall be professional land surveyors; 1 shall be a licensed property line surveyor or a professional land surveyor; and 2 shall be consumer members. The Governor shall appoint the members with the advice of the Secretary and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Governor may appoint each of the professional members from a list of at least 3 names submitted to the Secretary by the Maryland Society of Surveyors. Each consumer member of the Board: shall be a member of the general public; may not be a licensee or otherwise be subject to regulation by the Board; may not be required to meet the qualifications for the professional members of the Board; and may not, within 1 year before appointment, have had a financial interest in or have received compensation from a person regulated by the Board. While a member of the Board, a consumer member may not: have a financial interest in or receive compensation from a person regulated by the Board; or grade any examination given by or for the Board. Before taking office, each appointee to the Board shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution. The term of a member is 5 years and begins on July 1. The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on October 1, 1989. At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 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. The Governor may remove a member for incompetence, misconduct, neglect of duties, or other good cause. Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a member shall be considered to have resigned if the member did not attend at least two–thirds of the Board meetings held during any consecutive 12–month period while the member was serving on the Board. The Governor may waive a member’s resignation and allow the member to continue serving if the member has been unable to attend meetings for reasons satisfactory to the Governor and the reasons are made public. In accordance with § 8–501 of the State Government Article, the chairman shall provide notice to the Governor and the Governor shall appoint a successor.

From among the members of the Board, the Governor shall appoint a chairman. From among its members, the Board annually shall elect a vice chairman and a secretary. The manner of election of officers shall be as the Board determines.

A majority of the authorized membership of the Board is a quorum. The Board shall determine the times and places of its meetings. A member of the Board: may not receive compensation; but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Board may employ a staff in accordance with the State budget.

At least annually, the chairman of the Board, the chairman of the State Board of Architects, the chairman of the State Board of Certified Interior Designers, the chairman of the State Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects, and the chairman of the State Board for Professional Engineers shall meet to discuss issues of mutual importance to the design professions.

The Board shall adopt a code of ethics for practicing land surveying. The Board shall distribute: a copy of the code of ethics to each applicant for a license; and as the Board considers necessary, a copy of any amendment to the code of ethics to each licensee.

The Board shall administer and enforce this title. The Board may issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness to testify or the production of evidence in connection with: any disciplinary action under § 15-317 of this title; or any proceeding brought for an alleged violation of this title. The Board may sue to enforce any provision of this title by injunction. In seeking an injunction under this subsection, the Board is not required to: post bond; or allege or prove either that: an adequate remedy at law does not exist; or substantial or irreparable damage would result from the continued violation of the provision. A member of the Board may not be held personally liable for any action taken under this subsection in good faith and with reasonable grounds.

On request of any person and payment of a verification fee set by the Board, the Board shall certify the licensing or permit status and qualifications of any person who is the subject of the request. Each certification under this section: shall include a statement of the licensing or permit status of the person who is the subject of the request; and may include: information about the examination results and other qualifications of that person; information about the dates of issuance and renewal of the license or permit of that person; information about any disciplinary action taken against that person; and if authorized by that person, information about any complaint against that person.

In addition to any powers set forth elsewhere, the Board may adopt: any bylaw for the conduct of the proceedings of the Board; and any regulation to carry out this title. In addition to any duties set forth elsewhere, the Board shall: adopt a seal; determine a type of marker, monument, stake, or other landmark that a licensee shall use in practicing land surveying and practicing property line surveying; keep a record of its proceedings; and by regulation, formalize minimum standards of practice for licensees.

The Board shall maintain a listing of the names and mailing addresses of all licensees and permit holders. The Board may release this list to the public. The licensee or permit holder shall designate the address at the time of issuance of the original license or permit and on the renewal of the license or permit. The Board shall provide all licensees, certificate holders, and code officials with a periodic newsletter not less than semiannually on the activities of the Board. The Board shall publish, on the Department website, the newsletter jointly with the State Board for Professional Engineers, the State Board of Architects, the State Board of Certified Interior Designers, and the State Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects.

The Board may set reasonable fees for its services. The fees charged shall be set so as to produce funds to approximate the cost of maintaining the Board and shall be based on the calculations performed by the Secretary under § 2–106.2 of the Business Regulation Article. The Board shall publish the fee schedule set by the Board by regulation. The Board shall pay all fees collected under this title to the Comptroller of the State. The Comptroller shall distribute the fees to the State Occupational and Professional Licensing Design Boards’ Fund established in § 2–106.1 of the Business Regulation Article.

Any person aggrieved by any final action of the Board may take an appeal as allowed in §§ 10-222 and 10-223 of the State Government Article.

The Board exercises its powers, duties, and functions subject to the authority of the Secretary.