State Agencies

COLLECTION AGENCY LICENSING
BOARD

Chairperson: Alan T. Fell, 1982

Leon I. Snyder, 1982; Paul E. Hartman, 1982;
James J. Jones, 1982; Nellie Miller, 1982.

One South Calvert Street
Baltimore 21202 Telephone; 659-6340

The Collection Agency Licensing Board, which
is part of the office of the Commissioner of
Consumer Credit, was created by Chapter 319,
Acts of 1977. The Board consists of five members
appointed by the Governor with the advice and
consent of the Senate for a term of four years.
One member shall be the Commissioner of Con-
sumer Credit who serves as chairperson, two
members represent debt collection agencies, and
two members represent consumers and must be
either an officer or board member of a recognized
consumer group or an employee of a county or
other local consumer protection agency of the
State.

The Board has the power to issue, suspend,
and revoke licenses; to reprimand licensees; to re-
ceive written complaints from consumers and to
hold hearings into allegations of violations of the
Consumer Debt Collection Act by a debt collec-
tion agency; and to mediate disputes between
consumers and debt collection agencies, including
suggesting monetary compensation to the con-
sumer. The Board serves without compensation
(Code 1957, Art. 56, secs. 323-329).

DIVISION OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Harvey A. Epstein, Commissioner
Nancy B. Burkheimer, Deputy Commissioner
C. Frank Morgan, Assistant Commissioner, MOSH
Henry R. Wolfe, Assistant Attorney General

203 East Baltimore Street
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-4171

The Division of Labor and Industry, estab-
lished by Chapter 211, Acts of 1884, as the Bu-
reau of Statistics and Information, is one of the
oldest governmental agencies in this field in the
United States, antedating the U.S. Department of
Labor by one year. After 1892 the Department
was known as the Industrial Bureau. A reorgani-
zation in 1916 renamed it the State Board of Lab-

Licensing and Regulation/221

or and Statistics and concentrated in it powers to
enforce all the factory acts. The General Assem-
bly made further changes by Chapter 747, Acts
of 1939, and created the present Division by
Chapter 938, Acts of 1945, as the Department of
Labor and Industry. It adopted its present name
by Chapter 402, Acts of 1970.

The Commissioner is appointed by the Secre-
tary of Licensing and Regulation with the ap-
proval of the Governor and holds office at the
pleasure of the Secretary. The Division, under the
direction of the Commissioner, enforces laws and
regulations affecting workers and employers and
promotes harmony between industry and labor
through mediation and arbitration of labor dis-
putes and the holding of consent collective
bargaining elections.

The Division is organized into eight sections
which administer the following laws:

Employment Standards: Hours of Labor (Code
1957, Art. 89, secs. 25 and 26), Employment of
Minors (Code 1957, Art. 100, secs. 1-14), Equal
Pay for Equal Work (Code 1957, Art. 100, secs.
55A-55H), Wage and Hour Law (Code 1957,
Art. 100, secs. 81-93), Contracts for Public
Works (Code 1957, Art. 100, secs. 96-107), Wage
Payment and Collection (Code 1957, Art. 100,
sec. 94).

Railroad Safety: Railroad Safety and Health
(Code 1957, Art. 89, secs. 82-99).

Mediation and Conciliation: Arbitration of Labor
Disputes (Code 1957, Art. 89, secs. 1-13).

Safety Inspection: Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Safety (Code 1957, Art. 48, secs. 167-180); Smok-
ing on Elevators (Code 1957, Art. 89, sec. 64);
Amusement Park Safety (Code 1957, Art. 89,
secs. 65-81).

Apprenticeship and Training: Apprenticeship and
Training (Code 1957, Art. 89, secs. 50-56).

Research and Information: Registration of Work-
shops and Factories (Code 1957, Art. 27, secs.
324-333).

Occupational Safety and Health: Occupational
Safety and Health (Code 1957, Art. 89, secs.
28-49B).

Employment Agencies: Fee Charging Employ-
ment Agencies (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs.
161-170).