Section 202 - Board membership.
§ 1A-202. Board membership.
(a) Composition.-
(1) The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor.
(2) Of the seven members:
(i) Five shall be licensed acupuncturists appointed from a list submitted as provided in subsection (c) of this section; and
(ii) Two shall be consumer members.
(b) Acupuncturist members - Qualifications.- Each acupuncturist member shall:
(1) Be a resident of the State; and
(2) For at least 5 years immediately before appointment have been engaged in the practice of acupuncture in the State.
(c) Acupuncturist members - Vacancies.- For each vacancy of an acupuncture member, the Board shall compile a list of names to be submitted to the Governor in the following manner:
(1) The Board shall notify all licensed acupuncturists in the State of the vacancy to solicit nominations to fill the vacancy;
(2) Each professional association of acupuncturists in the State shall nominate at least one person for every two vacancies that exist; and
(3) Each educational institution that provides acupuncture training in the State shall nominate at least one person for every two vacancies that exist.
(d) Consumer members - Qualifications.- The consumer members:
(1) Shall be members of the general public;
(2) May not be or ever have been an acupuncturist or in training to become an acupuncturist;
(3) May not have a household member who is an acupuncturist or in training to become an acupuncturist;
(4) May not participate or ever have participated in a commercial or professional field related to acupuncture;
(5) May not have a household member who participates in a commercial or professional field related to acupuncture; and
(6) May not have had within 2 years before appointment a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board.
(e) Consumer members - Restriction.- While a member of the Board, the consumer member may not have a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board.
(f) Oath.- Before taking office, each appointee to the Board shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.
(g) Tenure; vacancies.-
(1) The term of a member is 4 years.
(2) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 1994.
(3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(4) A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms.
(5) 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.
(h) Removal.- The Governor may remove a member for incompetence or misconduct.
[1994, ch. 620, § 1; 2004, ch. 387; 2009, ch. 60, § 5.]