HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1093

sub-title "Agents and Brokers", said new section to be
known as Section 92A, and to follow immediately after
Section 92, relating to the issuance by the Insurance Com-
missioner of certificates of authority to public fire insur-
ance adjusters, and public adjuster solicitors, and the sus-
pension and revocation thereof.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted 'by tine General Assembly of Mary-
land, That a new section be and the same is hereby added to
Article 48A of Flack's Annotated Code of Maryland (1939
Edition), title "Insurance", sub-title "Agents and Brokers",
said section to be known as Section 92A and to follow imme-
diately after Section 92, and to read as follows:

92A. Public Adjusters; Certificate of Authority, (a) The
term "public adjuster" in this section shall include every
person, partnership, association or corporation advertising,
soliciting business or holding himself or itself out to the
public as an adjuster of claims for losses or damages arising
out of policies of fire or allied lines of insurance, or receiving
any compensation or reward for the giving of advice or as-
sistance to the assured in the adjustment of claims for such
losses, and all persons who for compensation or reward,
whether by way of salary or commission or otherwise, directly
or indirectly, solicit business, investigate or adjust losses or
advise the assured with reference to claims for such losses,
on behalf of any other person, partnership, association or cor-
poration engaged in the business of adjusting loss or damage
by fire or other contingency covered by a policy of fire and
allied lines of insurance. The term "Public Adjuster
Solicitor" in this section shall mean any person who is a full
time bona fide employee of a public adjuster, who solicits in
any manner or aids in securing for a public adjuster any con-
tract for the adjustment of a loss.

(b) No person, partnership, association or corporation shall,
directly or indirectly, act as a public adjuster, or as a public
adjuster solicitor, or receive for or because of services rendered
in the adjustment of any claim or claims for loss or damage
by fire or allied coverage under a policy or policies of insur-
ance upon property within this State any money or commission
or other thing of value, without first procuring a certificate of
authority to act as a public adjuster or public adjuster
solicitor from the Insurance Commissioner.

(c) The Insurance Commissioner shall issue such public
adjusters' and public adjuster solicitors7 certificates of author-
ity to persons, partnerships, associations or corporations,
applying therefor, whom he deems to be trustworthy and com-
petent to transact business as public adjusters and public ad-
juster solicitors in such manner as to safeguard the interests