Section 3-302 - Appointment; qualifications; oath; removal.
§ 3-302. Appointment; qualifications; oath; removal.
(a) In general.- The health officer for a county shall be nominated by the county and appointed by the Secretary.
(b) Nomination procedures.- The governing body of each county shall establish, by ordinance or resolution, the process by which the county nominates an individual for health officer.
(c) Appointment or rejection of nominee.-
(1) If the Secretary finds that a nominee meets the qualifications of this section, the Secretary shall appoint the nominee as health officer.
(2) If the Secretary finds that the nominee does not meet the qualifications of this section, the Secretary shall reject the nomination, and the county shall provide the Secretary with another nomination.
(d) Qualifications.- Each health officer:
(1) Shall have:
(i) A master's degree in public health and at least 2 years' work in the field of public health; or
(ii) At least 5 years' work in the field of public health;
(2) Shall have any other qualifications and training in the field of public health that the Secretary requires by rule or regulation; and
(3) Need not be a physician, if the health officer has a deputy who:
(i) Is a physician; and
(ii) Meets the qualifications of this subsection.
(e) Oath.- Before taking office, each appointee to the office of health officer shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.
(f) Responsibility to county governing body and Secretary.- The health officer for a county serves at the pleasure of the governing body of that county and the Secretary.
(g) Removal.- The health officer for a county may be removed from office with the concurrence of the governing body of that county and the Secretary.
[An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 51A; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 2004, ch. 25, § 6.]