In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Board” means a health occupation board regulated under the Health Occupations Article or the Health-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, with the exception of the Board of Nursing. “Board member” means an individual appointed by the Governor to serve on a Board. “Charging document” means the notice from the board pursuant to State Government Article, §10-208, Annotated Code of Maryland, which informs a licensee of an alleged violation or violations of a board's statute by the licensee. “Complaint” means a communication to a board of a possible violation of the disciplinary provisions of a Maryland licensing statute by a licensee. “Conflict of interest” means a situation in which a personal interest of a board member or a board investigator presents a potential conflict with the public interest in connection with an anticipated public action or decision. “Ex parte communication” means a direct or indirect communication between a board member and another party regarding the merits of an issue in a pending contested disciplinary case if the communication is made outside the presence of the opposing party in the case. “Investigator” means an individual who investigates complaints received by a health occupation board. Liaison. “Liaison” means a board member designated by the board to provide practitioner expertise to the investigator or prosecutor, or both, pertaining to a specific complaint. “Liaison” does not mean a board member who participates only in a preliminary review of a complaint. “Recusal” means nonparticipation of a board member in a specific matter before the Board.