(a) (1) The Board consists of 12 members.
(2) Of the 12 Board members:
(i) 10 shall be licensed social workers of whom:
1. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed bachelor social worker;
2. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed master social worker at the time of appointment;
3. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, at least 1 is:
A. A licensed certified social worker; or
B. A licensed master social worker who is approved for independent practice;
4. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, at least 4 are licensed certified social workers–clinical;
5. 1 is a licensed social worker employed by the Department of Human Services; and
6. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, 1 is a licensed social worker who is:
A. Primarily engaged in social worker education at a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; and
B. Nominated from a list of names submitted by the deans and directors of the Maryland Social Work Education Programs; and
(ii) 2 shall be consumer members.
(3) If a licensee of the specified license category is not appointed to the Board under paragraph (2)(i) of this subsection within 3 months of a vacancy, a licensee of any license category shall be appointed immediately if that licensee is qualified to be a member of the Board under subsections (b) and (d) of this section.
(4) The Governor shall appoint all members of the Board with the advice of the Secretary and the advice and consent of the Senate.
(5) The Governor shall appoint all social work members of the Board from a list of nominees containing names submitted by:
(i) Professional social work associations in the State;
(ii) Any person who provides a statement of nomination signed by at least 15 social workers licensed in the State;
(iii) The secretaries of public agencies of the State where social workers are employed; or
(iv) The corporate executive officers or executive directors of private organizations where social workers are employed.
(b) Each member of the Board shall be a resident of this State.
(c) Each consumer member of the Board:
(1) Shall be a member of the general public;
(2) May not be or ever have been a social worker or in training to become a social worker;
(3) May not have a household member who is a social worker or in training to become a social worker;
(4) May not participate or ever have participated in a commercial or professional field related to social work;
(5) May not have a household member who participates in a commercial or professional field related to social work; and
(6) May not have had within 2 years before appointment a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board or a person that employs a person regulated by the Board.
(d) Except for a licensed bachelor social worker member or a licensed master social worker member, each social worker member of the Board shall have been licensed in the State for 5 years immediately preceding the appointment and actively employed in the field of social work for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the appointment.
(e) While a member of the Board, a consumer member may not have a substantial financial interest in a person regulated by the Board or a person that employs a person regulated by the Board.
(f) Before taking office, each appointee to the Board shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.
(g) (1) The term of a member is 4 years.
(2) The terms of members are staggered.
(3) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(4) 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.
(5) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a member may not serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.
(ii) A licensed social worker member who is nominated in accordance with subsection (a)(2)(i)6B of this section may not serve more than 1 full term.
(6) To the extent practicable, the Governor shall fill any vacancy on the Board within 60 days of the date of the vacancy.
(h) (1) The Governor may remove a member for incompetence, misconduct, or neglect of duty.
(2) Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, the Governor may remove a member whom the Secretary finds to have been absent from 2 successive Board meetings without adequate reason.