Sec. 09.11.06.02. Education Committee

A. There is an Education Committee consisting of Commission members appointed by the Chairman. The Committee shall include at least two licensee members and one consumer member.

B. A course provider who has been denied approval of a course by Commission staff may request the Committee to review that decision. The request for review shall be filed within 10 business days of receipt of the denial notice.

C. The Committee shall review the request and issue a decision within 20 days.

D. An applicant for approval as a course provider whose application has been turned down or a course provider whose approval to offer courses has been suspended or withdrawn by Commission staff may request an informal conference with the Committee to review that decision. The request for the conference shall be filed within 10 business days of receipt of the denial, suspension, or withdrawal notice. After the conference, the Committee shall either approve the course provider or refer the matter to a hearing panel of the Commission for a hearing in accordance with Business Occupations and Professions Article, §17-326, Annotated Code of Maryland.

E. The hearing panel shall hold a hearing within 60 days of the referral from the Committee, and issue a decision within 30 days after the hearing.

F. An applicant or course provider may waive the right to a hearing and request the hearing panel to review the decision to deny, suspend, or withdraw approval based on documentary evidence.

G. The decision of the hearing panel as to suspension or withdrawal of course provider approval shall be based on the seriousness of the offense charged, the good faith of the provider, and any prior history of violations by the provider.

H. The decisions of the Committee as to course approval and the hearing panel as to approval of a course provider are the final decisions of the Commission.

I. If a course provider makes a timely request for review of a decision to suspend or withdraw its approval to offer courses, that action shall be stayed until the final decision of the Commission.