(a) (1) The Board consists of nine members.
(2) Of the nine Board members:
(i) Seven shall be dietitian-nutritionists licensed on or after July 1, 2004 to practice dietetics in Maryland, including:
1. One member who is engaged primarily in clinical dietetic practice;
2. One member who is engaged primarily in community or public health dietetic practice;
3. One member who is engaged primarily in administrative dietetic practice;
4. One member who is engaged primarily in consulting dietetic practice;
5. One member who is a faculty member in the field of dietetics or nutritional science; and
6. Two members who are certified nutrition specialists and who may not be registered dietitians; and
(ii) Two shall be consumer members.
(3) The Governor shall appoint the licensed dietitian-nutritionist members with the advice of the Secretary and with the advice and consent of the Senate from a list submitted as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(4) The Governor shall appoint the consumer members with the advice of the Secretary and the advice and consent of the Senate.
(b) (1) For each licensed dietitian–nutritionist vacancy, the Board shall compile a list of names to be submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this subsection, including at least three names for each of the vacancies.
(2) The Board shall notify all licensed dietitian–nutritionists in the State of the vacancy to solicit nominations to fill the vacancy.
(3) The Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or the Maryland Nutritionists Association shall nominate qualified individuals to fill the vacancy within 30 days after the notice required in paragraph (2) of this subsection is given.
(4) The Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics may comment on an individual nominated by the Maryland Nutritionists Association under paragraph (3) of this subsection within 30 days after the nomination and before the list is submitted to the Secretary.
(5) The Maryland Nutritionists Association may comment on an individual nominated by the Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics under paragraph (3) of this subsection within 30 days after the nomination and before the list is submitted to the Secretary.
(c) (1) Each licensed dietitian-nutritionist member of the Board shall:
(i) Be a citizen of the United States;
(ii) Be a resident of the State; and
(iii) Have practiced dietetics for at least 5 of the last 10 years.
(2) The consumer member of the Board:
(i) Shall be a citizen of the United States;
(ii) Shall be a resident of this State;
(iii) May not be a licensed dietitian-nutritionist or have a household member who is a licensed dietitian-nutritionist;
(iv) May not have a financial interest in the provision of goods or services to licensed dietitian-nutritionists; and
(v) May not have a financial interest in the provision of dietary goods or services to consumers.
(d) (1) The term of a member is 4 years.
(2) The terms of the members are staggered as required by the terms provided for members of the Board on July 1, 1985.
(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) To the extent practicable, the Governor shall fill any vacancy on the Board within 75 days of the date of the vacancy.
(6) A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive full terms.
(e) 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.