Claude A. Hanley, Insurance Commissioner, 1951
Hazleton A. Joyce, Deputy Commissioner
John H. Coppage, Chief Examiner
Calvert F. Stein, Actuary
William L. Colleran, Adjustor
Gerald A. Voith, Insurance Advisor
Leonard L. Shircliff, Insurance Agent Examiner
Mollie Edna Bald, Assessment Supervisor
John J. Myers, Deputy Fire Marshall
Joseph M. McSweeney, Deputy Fire Marshall
Denton S. Lowe, Auditor
Howard E. Gates, Chief, Rating Bureau.

901 Davison Building, Baltimore 1 Telephone: Lexington 08.55.

The State Insurance Department was first created in 1872 as a part
of the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury. In 1878 the Depart-
ment became an independent agency. The State Insurance Depart-
ment is under the direction of the Insurance Commissioner, who is ap-
pointed by the Governor for a term of four years (Code 1939, Art.
48A, sec. 3)..

The Department is responsible for the overall administration and
enforcement of the insurance laws of the State. It licenses and ex-
amines all insurance agents, insurance companies and brokers doing
business within the State. The department conducts periodic exami-
nations of the financial status of all companies organized under the
laws of the State and such other companies doing business in Mary-
land as the Commissioner deems necessary. The Rating Bureau, or-
ganized in 1945, is responsible for the promulgating and policing of
rates of all classes of insurance, and reviews the rates established
to see that they are at all times adequate, reasonable and fair.
Rating Bureaus and agencies operating within the State are licensed
and reviewed by the department. There is also within the Insurance
Department a Fire Investigation Bureau. This Bureau investigates
all suspicious fires in the State. The Bureau is also charged with the
inspection of all buildings used by the general public, excepting
those located in Baltimore City, for the purpose of ascertaining com-
pliance with the fire laws. The Insurance Commissioner has the power
to issue orders to secure compliance with fire regulations and to ini-
tiate proceedings to condemn any building when the owner fails to
abide by the orders of the Commissioner. The Fire Bureau also
issues permits for the public display of fireworks and for the sale and
use of explosives within the State (Code 1947 Supp. Art. 48A, secs.
69-81e)..

Publications: Maryland Insurance Report, 1946, 1947.
Directory of Insurance Companies, 1947..

Directory of Insurance Brokers Licensed in Maryland,
1946.

1948 1949
Appropriations ........................................... ..$147,219 $148,609
Staff: 27..