There is a State Board of Electricians in the Department.
The State Board consists of 9 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Of the 9 members of the State Board:
6 shall be licensed master electricians; and
3 shall be consumer members.
Of the 6 master electrician members:
1 shall be from Baltimore City;
1 shall be from the area that consists of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties;
1 shall be from the area that consists of Baltimore, Cecil, and Harford counties;
1 shall be from the area that consists of Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties;
1 shall be from the area that consists of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties; and
1 shall be from the area that consists of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington counties.
The consumer members shall be from the State at large.
A member of the State Board may not reside in the same county as another member.
Each member of the State Board shall be a citizen and resident of the State.
Each master electrician member of the State Board shall:
hold an active State license; and
be engaged actively in providing electrical services as a master electrician for at least 5 consecutive years immediately before appointment.
Each consumer member of the State Board:
shall be a member of the general public;
may not be a licensee or otherwise be subject to regulation by the State Board;
may not be required to meet the qualifications for the professional members of the State 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 State Board.
While a member of the State Board, a consumer member may not:
have a financial interest in or receive compensation from a person regulated by the State Board; or
grade an examination given by or for the State Board.
Before taking office, each appointee to the State Board shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.
The term of a member is 3 years and begins on July 1.
The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the State 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.
A member may not be reappointed for more than 2 consecutive 3-year terms.
The Governor may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.
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 State Board meetings held during any consecutive 12–month period while the member was serving on the State 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 its members, the State Board annually shall elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary.
The manner of election of officers shall be as the State Board determines.
The terms of the officers are for 1 year and begin on July 1.
A majority of the authorized membership of the State Board is a quorum.
The State Board shall meet at least once a month, at the times that it determines, in the office of the State Board.
The State Board may hold special meetings as necessary.
Subject to the State budget, each member of the State Board is entitled to:
an annual salary of $3,600; and
reimbursement for reasonable expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations.
The State Board may employ a staff in accordance with the State budget.
In addition to any powers and duties set forth elsewhere, the State Board shall:
twice a year hold a seminar and invite members from each local licensing jurisdiction to discuss any industry or licensing problems;
adopt regulations to establish:
application and examination fees;
continuing education requirements; and
application deadlines;
enforce, within 18 months of issuance, minimum standards for the provision of electrical services consistent with the most recently issued version of the National Fire Protection Association 70: National Electrical Code;
issue licenses;
keep records of its proceedings; and
adopt any other regulations necessary to carry out this title.
The continuing education requirements adopted under this section shall:
be based on the National Electrical Code or any local variants adopted by a local board;
consist of a course or training on practical techniques, installation procedures, or other relevant topics; and
be administered by:
a college or an apprenticeship program approved by the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning or the federal Office of Apprenticeship;
a state or nationally recognized training program; or
another person approved by the State Board.
In connection with a proceeding, the State Board or a hearing officer whom the State Board designates:
may hold hearings;
may administer oaths; and
by deposition in the same manner as provided in civil cases in the State or otherwise, may take testimony.
The State Board or its designee may issue a subpoena.
The police department of Baltimore City or the sheriff of a county shall serve a subpoena issued under this subsection.
If a person fails to comply with a subpoena issued under this subsection, on petition of the State Board, a circuit court may compel compliance with the subpoena.
If the State Board concludes that conduct alleged to be a violation of this title may result in irreparable harm to a person, the State Board may sue to enforce a provision of this title by ex parte, interlocutory, or final injunction.
The State Board shall bring suit under this subsection in the circuit court for the county where:
the violation allegedly is occurring; or
the principal place of business of the alleged violator is located.
In seeking an injunction under this subsection, the State Board is not required to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist.
The State Board may set by regulation reasonable fees for its services.
The fees charged shall be:
set so as to produce funds to approximate the cost of maintaining the State Board; and
based on the calculations performed by the Secretary under § 2–106.10 of the Business Regulation Article.
The State Board shall publish a schedule of the fees set by the State Board.
The State Board shall pay all fees collected under this title to the Comptroller.
The Comptroller shall distribute the fees to the Occupational Mechanical Licensing Boards’ Fund established under § 2–106.9 of the Business Regulation Article.
The State Board exercises its powers, duties, and functions subject to the authority of the Secretary.