Maryland Labor and Employment Section 8-509

      (a)      An individual who files a claim for benefits or an employer entitled to notice of a determination or redetermination of the claim may file an appeal with the Board of Appeals within 15 days after notice of the determination or redetermination is mailed to the claimant or employer at the last known address of the claimant or employer or otherwise is delivered.

      (b)      The Secretary, at the Secretary's discretion, may be a party to an appeal filed by a claimant or employing unit with the Board of Appeals.

      (c)      (1)      Unless an appeal filed under subsection (a) of this section is withdrawn or removed to the Board of Appeals, a hearing examiner designated by the Board of Appeals shall:

                  (i)      give the parties a reasonable opportunity for a fair hearing in accordance with the notice provisions in §§ 10-207 and 10-208 of the State Government Article, except that the notice is not subject to § 10-208(b)(4) and (7) of the State Government Article;

                  (ii)      make findings of fact and conclusions of law, based on a preponderance of evidence, in accordance with § 10-217 of the State Government Article; and

                  (iii)      on the basis of the findings of fact and conclusions of law, affirm, modify, or reverse a determination or redetermination.

            (2)      The Board of Appeals may transfer an appeal from 1 hearing examiner to another or remove an appeal to itself.

      (d)      The hearing examiner promptly shall give each party:

            (1)      notice of the decision of the hearing examiner in accordance with § 10-221 of the State Government Article; and

            (2)      a copy of the decision and the findings of fact and conclusions of law that support the decision.

      (e)      The decision of the hearing examiner is final unless further review is initiated under § 8-510 of this subtitle.