State Board of Architects - Grounds for Discipline and Anonymous Complaints

SB 653 modifies Maryland's licensing rules for architects by making the State Board of Architects *required* to deny, reprimand, or suspend licenses in specific cases, rather than merely authorized to do so. It directly affects licensed architects who fraudulently misrepresent their license status (Section 3-311(a)(1)(ii)), county code officials who review building permits (requiring them to verify credentials under Section 3-208.1), and the Board itself (mandating annual lists of licensees and notifications of suspensions). Key provisions include requiring the Board to notify code officials when a license is suspended, mandating code officials to verify a licensee’s credentials before issuing permits, and establishing clear grounds for disciplinary action like fraud, misconduct, or convictions related to architecture practice. The bill updates Sections 3-208.1 and 3-311 of the Maryland Annotated Code to strengthen enforcement and transparency.