There is a State Board of Foresters in the Department.
The Board consists of 7 members.
Of the 7 members of the Board:
5 shall be licensed foresters; and
2 shall be consumer members.
The Governor shall appoint the members with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The Governor shall appoint each of the licensed forester members from a list of at least 3 names of licensed foresters submitted to the Governor by the Maryland members of the Maryland-Delaware Division of the Allegheny Society of American Foresters.
Each member of the Board shall be:
a citizen of the United States; and
a resident of the State for at least 3 years.
Each licensed forester member of the Board shall have practiced forestry for at least 10 years.
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; or
habitual or willful neglect of duty.
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 its members, the Board annually shall elect a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary.
The manner of election of officers shall be as the Board determines.
The secretary of the Board shall be covered by a surety bond or an insurance policy of the type and in the amount of coverage determined by the State Treasurer under § 5–108 of the State Government Article.
A majority of the authorized membership of the Board is a quorum.
The Board shall meet at least twice a year, at the times and places that the Board determines.
The Board may hold special meetings as provided in its bylaws, but the Board may not hold more than 1 meeting in a calendar month.
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.
Subject to the State budget, the Board may employ an investigative staff to investigate a charge that is made against a licensed forester and alleges facts that constitute:
a ground for disciplinary action under this title; or
a violation of this title.
The Board may administer oaths.
The Board may issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness to testify or the production of evidence in connection with:
a disciplinary action under § 7-309 of this title; or
a proceeding brought for an alleged violation of this title.
A subpoena shall be signed by the chairman of the Board and sealed with the seal of the Board.
If a person fails to comply with a subpoena issued under this subsection, on petition of the Board, a circuit court may compel compliance with the subpoena.
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 administer this title;
shall adopt a seal; and
shall keep a record of its proceedings.
The Board shall keep a record that, for each application for a license, shows:
the applicant’s:
name;
age;
residence;
place of business; and
educational and other qualifications;
the date of the application;
whether the applicant was required to take an examination;
the action of the Board on the application;
the reason for the action; and
any other information the Board considers necessary.
The Board shall:
keep a list of all licensed foresters that shows the name and place of business of each licensee;
provide a copy of the list:
on request, to any member of the public; and
every 2 years, on or before March 31, to:
each licensee; and
the Secretary of State.
With the advice of the established forestry associations, the Board shall adopt, by regulation, a code of ethics for practicing forestry.
The Board shall distribute a copy of the code of ethics:
to each applicant for a license; and
on each renewal of a license, to each licensee.
The Board shall adopt regulations that implement the continuing education requirement set forth in § 7-308(c)(2) of this title.
The Board shall pay all money collected under this title into the General Fund of the State.
The Board exercises its powers, duties, and functions subject to the authority of the Secretary.