36 MARYLAND MANUAL

STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT

Claude A. Hanley, Insurance Commissioner, 1951

Hazleton A. Joyce, Deputy Commissioner

John H. Coppage, Chief Examiner

Calvert F. Stein, Actuary

Gerald A. Voith, Insurance Advisor

Leonard L. Shircliff, Insurance Agent Examiner

Mollie Edna Bald, Assessment Supervisor

John J. Meyers, Deputy Fire Marshall

Joseph M. McSweeney, Deputy Fire Marshall

Denton S. Lowe, Auditor

Howard E. Gates, Chief, Rating Bureau

215-230 Tower Building, Baltimore 2 Telephone: Lexingbon 0855

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 (Code 1947, Supp., Art. 48A, sec.
140A). There is also within the Insurance Department a Fire In-
vestigation 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 Bal-
timore City, for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the fire
laws. The Insurance Commissioner has the power to issue orders to
secure compliance with fire regulations and to initiate proceedings
to condemn any building when the owner fails to abide by the order
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, sees. 71-81e).

Expenditures, 1949 ........................--....$162,886.09

Appropriation, 1950 ........................ 173,517.00

Staff: 27. ....