There is a State Board of Certified Interior Designers in the Department.

The Board consists of 7 members. Of the 7 members of the Board: 5 shall be certified interior designers; 1 shall be an architect licensed by the State Board of Architects who provides interior design services; and 1 shall be a consumer member. The Governor shall appoint the members of the Board with the advice of the Secretary and the advice and consent of the Senate. Each member of the Board shall be a resident and citizen of the State. Each interior designer member shall have provided interior design services for at least 5 years immediately before appointment. The architect member shall have practiced in the State for at least 5 years immediately before appointment. The consumer member of the Board: shall be a member of the general public; may not be a certified interior designer 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 an individual regulated by the Board. While a member of the Board, the consumer member may not: have a financial interest in or receive compensation from an individual 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 3 years and begins on July 1. The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 1991. 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 of the Board may not be held personally liable for any actions taken or decisions made in good faith as a member of the Board. 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 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 and a secretary. The manner of election of officers shall be as the Board determines. A member may serve no more than three consecutive years as an officer of the Board.

A majority of the members then serving on the Board is a quorum. The Board shall determine the times and places of its meetings and hearings. 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 Examiners of Landscape Architects, the chairman of the State Board for Professional Engineers, and the chairman of the State Board for Professional Land Surveyors shall meet to discuss issues of mutual importance to the design professions.

To enforce this title, the Board may: conduct investigations and hold hearings on any matter covered by this title, at any time and place in the State; administer oaths; examine witnesses; and receive evidence.

In addition to the powers set forth elsewhere, the Board may adopt regulations to carry out this title. In addition to any duties set forth elsewhere, the Board shall: keep a record of its proceedings; and adopt, by regulation, a code of ethics for certified interior designers.

In this section, “code official” means a public official responsible for the review of building permit documents or the issuance of building permits. The Board shall: keep a list of the names and mailing addresses of all certificate holders; provide each code official with a copy of the list annually; and provide any other person who makes a request with a copy of the list at a reasonable fee set by the Board. The Board shall provide all 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 Examiners of Landscape Architects, and the State Board for Professional Land Surveyors. The Board shall distribute: to each applicant for a certificate and each code official, a copy of the Maryland Certified Interior Designers Act and the Board’s rules and regulations; on each renewal of a certificate, to each certificate holder, a copy of any amendments to the Maryland Certified Interior Designers Act and the Board’s rules and regulations that took effect during the 2-year period ending on the date of renewal; and to each code official, a copy of any amendments to the Maryland Certified Interior Designers Act and the Board’s rules and regulations. A certificate holder shall designate the certificate holder’s mailing address at the time of issuance of the certificate and on each renewal of the certificate.

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. The Board shall publish annually a list including the name and address of each individual: who has been certified; or whose certification has been suspended or revoked within 3 years before the publication.

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