WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                           Ch. 721

[(i)] (1) May not appeal to the Board of Review; but

[(ii)](2) May take a direct judicial appeal[.

(2) The appeal shall be made as provided for judicial review of final
decisions] AS PROVIDED in Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.

17-316.

For reasons the Board considers sufficient, and on the affirmative vote of a majority
of its members then serving, the Board may:

(1)      Reinstate a [certificate] LICENSE that has been revoked;

(2)      Reduce the period of a suspension; or

(3)     Withdraw a reprimand.

17-317.

(a)     In this section, "professional counselor rehabilitation committee" means a
committee that:

(1)      Is defined in subsection (b) of this section; and

(2)      Performs any of the functions listed in subsection (d) of this section.

(b)      For purposes of this section, a professional counselor rehabilitation committee
is a committee of the Board or a committee of any association or associations
representing LICENSED professional counselors OR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL

COUNSELORS MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS that:

(1)      Is recognized by the Board; and

(2)      Includes but is not limited to LICENSED professional counselors OR
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS.

(c)      A rehabilitation committee of the Board or recognized by the Board may
function:

(1)      Solely for the Board; or

(2)     Jointly with a rehabilitation committee representing another board or
boards.

(d)     For purposes of this section, a professional counselor rehabilitation committee
evaluates and provides assistance to any LICENSED professional counselor, and any other
individual regulated by the Board, in need of treatment and rehabilitation for alcoholism,
drug abuse, chemical dependency, or other physical, emotional, or mental condition.

(e)      (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the proceedings,
records, and files of the professional counselor rehabilitation committee are not
discoverable and are not admissible in evidence in any civil action arising out of the
matters that are being or have been reviewed and evaluated by the professional counselor
rehabilitation committee.

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