STATE BOARD OF ELECTRICIANS BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES June 23, 2026

TIME:             10:00 a.m.
PLACE:           100 South Charles Street, Tower 1
Baltimore, MD  21201
Via Google Meet Video and Teleconference + 321-465-5183; PIN: 457 489 090#

MEMBERS PRESENT:          Chet Brown, Chair, Industry Member
Donald Steinman, Industry Member (Joined at 10:08 am)
William "Eric" Smith, Industry Member
                                         Andre Mellerson, Industry Member      
Walter "Dave" Irvin, Vice Chair, Industry Member
Lisa Carlis, Consumer Member

MEMBERS ABSENT:             Amadou Magazi, Industry Member
Matthew Poch, Consumer Member

STAFF PRESENT:                  Charles Marquette, Executive Director
Sloane Fried Kinstler, Assistant Attorney General
Andrew Friel, Director of Government Affairs
Aajah Harris, Director of Government Affairs
Leslie Lantz, Administrative Officer I

OTHERS PRESENT:              Angel Maria Savoy, Member of the Public

CALL TO ORDER:

After a roll call to establish a quorum, Chairman Brown called the Business Meeting of the Maryland State Board of Electricians to Order at 10:07 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion to approve the May 26, 2026 Business Meeting minutes was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Steinman, and the Board Members present voted unanimously to approve the Motion. 

COMPLAINT COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Smith reported the findings of the Complaint Committee as follows:

Upon a motion by Mr. Steinman, and a second by Mr. Irvin, the Board Members present voted unanimously to approve the Complaint Committee report for June 2026. 

APPLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT

Chairman Brown reported that, for the month of June, there were three pending applications reviewed., Chairman Brown stated he would like the Board to review two of the applications. Upon a motion by Mr. Steinman, and a second by Mr. Smith, the Board Members present voted unanimously to approve the Application Review Committee report for June 2026. 

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Steinman reported that no Continuing Education Provider applications were received for review during the reporting period. Board discussion followed regarding a pending Continuing Education provider application submitted by Board Member Andre Mellerson. It was noted that no Board action was required at this time.

EXAM CHALLENGES COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. Steinman stated that there were no challenges and, accordingly, no report necessary. Chairman Brown recognized that this would be Mr. Steinman's final Board meeting and thanked him for his dedicated service to the Board, particularly his leadership of the Continuing Education, Exam Challenge, and NEC Committees. Mr. Steinman expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve.
VOICE/DATA/VIDEO COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. Brown stated that work continues on the proposed Low Voltage licensing concept. The proposal remains in its early stages and is currently under review by the Secretary's Office. Additional updates will be provided as the project progresses.
REVIEW OF EXAMINATION STATISTICS AND LICENSE TOTALS
For the month of May 2026, PSI exams submitted the following statistical summary:

Ms. Lantz reported that since the inception of the exam, 9,566 candidates were tested, 2,709 passed, 6,857 failed, for a pass rate of 28%.

NEC 2026 COMMITTEE
Mr. Marquette reported that the Committee is awaiting the proposed examination questions from the Maryland Uniform Electrical Licensing Examination Committee (“MUELEC”). Mr. Marquette advised that staff recently communicated with MUELEC and was informed that the Committee anticipates providing the proposed examination questions to the Board by June 30, 2026. Mr. Marquette further stated that staff will continue to monitor the matter and remain available to provide any assistance requested by MUELEC. No further action was taken.
CORRESPONDENCE
Ms. Lantz stated that there was no correspondence to be discussed.
OLD BUSINESS

COMAR 09.09.03.04 Enforcement of the 2026 National Electrical Code
Mr. Marquette presented proposed regulatory language establishing August 31, 2026, as the effective enforcement date for the 2026 National Electrical Code and August 31 every three years thereafter for future code editions.  Mr. Irvin moved to approve publication of the proposed regulation.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Smith and carried unanimously.

COMAR 09.09.03.03 Master Electrician License Eligibility
Mr. Friel reported that the proposed regulation to require a Journey license before being permitted to Exam for a Master, remains under review by the Secretary's Office. Staff will continue to solicit feedback from industry stakeholders before moving forward with proposed action. No Board action was required.

COMAR 09.09.03.04 Provision of Electrical Services
Staff reported that draft language continues to be refined before submission to the Secretary's Office. Board members requested that any substantive language changes be returned to the Board prior to publication. No Board action was required.

NEW BUSINESS

Committee Appointments
Upon the expiration of Mr. Steinman's Board term, the Board reestablished its standing committees.

Continuing Education Committee
Following discussion regarding potential conflicts of interest, Board Counsel advised that no legal conflict exists solely because a Board member is also a Continuing Education provider. Individual members may voluntarily recuse themselves if appropriate.
Mr. Smith moved to establish the Continuing Education Committee with members Andre Mellerson, Lisa Carlis.    The motion was seconded by Mr. Steinman and unanimously approved.
Exam Challenge Committee
Mr. Smith moved to establish the Exam Challenge Committee with members Eric Smith, Dave Irvin, and Andre Mellerson. The motion was seconded by Mr. Steinman and was unanimously approved.

2026 NEC Committee
Mr. Smith moved to establish the 2026 Committee with members Eric Smith, Matthew Poch, and new member, Angel Savoy. The motion was seconded by Mr. Irvin and was unanimously approved.

Qualified Agent
The Board discussed the absence of a statutory definition for the term “qualified agent” and the challenges this presents during disciplinary proceedings. Board Counsel agreed to prepare draft regulatory language defining the term for Board review at a future meeting. Members also discussed clarifying that a Qualified Agent must be a licensed Master Electrician and reinforcing the statutory limitation restricting a Qualified Agent to work for one company at a time. No action was taken at this time.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Marquette thanked Mr. Steinman for his years of dedicated service to the Board and advised that updated committee assignments would be distributed following the meeting.
He reported that staff distributed a statewide email reminder regarding continuing education requirements to licensed electricians. He also discussed staff efforts to develop procedures to strengthen continuing education compliance and auditing and that draft reciprocal licensing language for a potential agreement with the State of Texas is under review and will be shared with Texas officials once finalized.
COUNSEL’S REPORT

Board Counsel advised the Board that a Closed Session was necessary to review two license applicants’ criminal and  disciplinary history, respectively, and a recommend decision in an administrative case. Counsel also explained the Board's authority when reviewing a Recommended Decision from the Office of Administrative Hearings, including its ability to adopt, modify, or reject any or all recommended sanctions.

CHAIR’S REPORT

Chairman Brown did not offer a report.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

CLOSED SESSION

Upon a motion by Mr. Steinman, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to enter into a closed session at approximately 11:08 a.m., via Google Meets pursuant to § 3-305(b)(2), (7), and (8) of the General Provisions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, to protect the privacy and reputation of an applicant or licensee and to obtain advice provided by Counsel regarding the license application and litigation.to discuss license applications, disciplinary matters, and to obtain advice from Counsel.

Applicant 001
An original apprentice electrician application was submitted in which the applicant reported a criminal history, involving a 2007 conviction involving possession and distribution of child pornography. The applicant completed a period of incarceration and is complaint with all terms of continuing supervision in place until July 2030.

After discussion, a motion to approve the application for an original apprentice electrician license was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Steinman, and unanimously approved by the Board.

Recommended Decision Case No.: ELEC-25-0002
Counsel presented an Administrative Law Judge’s Recommended Decision issued by the Office of Administrative Hearings in Case No.: ELEC-25-002 in which the respondent violated Business Occupations and Professions Article § 6-316(a)(13) by transferring the authority of their license to another person and § 6-316(b), which provides that allowing another person to use a license constitutes evidence that the license authority has been transferred. Based upon the findings and conclusions of the Administrative Law Judge, Counsel advised that a civil monetary penalty in the amount of $12,500.00 had been recommended.
After discussion, Mr. Smith moved to adopt the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommended Decision of the Administrative Law Judge.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Steinman and unanimously approved by the Board.

Application of Individual Reporting Prior Disciplinary Action
An application for a master electrician who reported prior disciplinary action by another state.

After discussion, Mr. Smith moved to approve the application to sit for the master electrician license examination. The motion was seconded by Mr. Steinman and unanimously approved by the Board.

A motion to return to the Business Meeting was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Irvin, and unanimously approved by the Board.

Upon reconvening the Business Meeting, a motion to accept the actions taken during the Closed Session was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Steinman, and unanimously approved by the Board at 11:59 a.m.

ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Smith moved to adjourn the business meeting; Mr. Irvin seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved by the Board at 12:03 p.m.

                                                                                               
_________________________________                                          ______________
Charles Marquette, Executive Director                                               Date
Mechanical Boards
                                                                       
As voted and approved by the Board on: _________