Sec. 10.27.13.02. Safe Practice Committee

A. Committee Appointments.

(1) Annually, before the September meeting, the Board shall determine the number of rehabilitation committees required in the State.

(2) The Board shall make appointments to the committee in October in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §8-208(c)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland.

(3) Appointments are for a 4-year term, except in the first year of any committee when the terms are staggered.

(4) Committee members may be reappointed for one additional 4-year term.

B. Committee Meetings.

(1) The committee shall determine where meetings are held and the frequency of meetings.

(2) Confidential minutes shall be kept of the committee meetings and maintained in a confidential file at the Board's office.

C. The Board shall review and approve all procedures established by the committee.

D. The committee shall function in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §8-208(j)-(q), Annotated Code of Maryland.

E. Powers and Duties of the Committee.

(1) The committee may:

(a) Evaluate each individual who requests to participate in the program or is referred to the program;

(b) Receive and review information about program participants; and

(c) Consider in each case if the participant can practice safely or an applicant qualifies for licensure or certification to practice.

(2) The committee shall:

(a) Prepare a written plan or agreement for each participant that establishes the requirements for supervision and monitoring; and

(b) Inform each licensee, certificate holder, or applicant who requests participation in the program about:

(i) The procedures to be followed;

(ii) The rights and responsibilities of a participant in the program; and

(iii) The possible consequences for a participant’s noncompliance with the program.

(3) At the request of the Board, the committee may evaluate a nurse, certified nursing assistant, medication technician, electrologist, or direct-entry midwife with a substance use disorder or mental illness for readiness to return to practice.

F. Annual Committee Report. The committee shall submit to the Board each year, and as requested, a report that provides:

(1) The number of cases accepted, denied, or terminated with compliance or noncompliance;

(2) The number of cases referred to the program that were not eligible;

(3) The number of individuals referred to the program who declined admission to the program; and

(4) A cost analysis of the program.