State Agencies Licensing and Regulation/245
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

John J. Corbley, Secretary of Licensing and Regulation

Edward E. Cline, Deputy Secretary

Daniel J. Minnick, Jr., Assistant Secretary

Dominic N. Fomaro, Assistant Secretary/or Labor Relations

Gordon N. Wilcox, Coordinator a/Administrative and Fiscal Services

Francis X. Pugh, Assistant Attorney General, Principal Counsel to the Department of Licensing and Reg-
ulation

501 St. Paul Place

Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6200
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7521

The Department of Licensing and Regulation, created in 1970, consolidated over thirty State agen-
cies and boards responsible for licensing and regulating businesses, professions, and trades. The oldest
of these date back to the late nineteenth century, such as the Insurance Department (1872), the Bureau
of Statistics and Information (1884), the State Board of Examining Engineers (1892), the State Board
of Veterinary Medical Examiners (1894), and the State Board of Law Examiners (1898). In 1951 the
Central License Office was authorized to house five boards (Chapter 280, Acts of 1951). The Office
was abolished when the Department was created in 1970 (Chapter 402, Acts of 1970). The Depart-
ment supervises many of the State's licensing and regulatory boards.

The Department is organized into five Divisions. The Insurance Division supervises all aspects of in-
surance services that are used by Maryland residents. The Division of Financial Regulation controls
the operation of banks, savings and loans, credit unions, consumer loan companies, sales finance com-
panies, mortgage companies, and collection agencies.

Protection for workers is provided by the Division of Labor and Industry, which establishes safety
standards and promotes harmony among employers and their employees. This Division also protects
public safety through the inspection of railroads, boilers, elevators, and amusement rides.

The Division of Sports and Recreation regulates boxing and wrestling matches, and horse racing to
maintain quality in these recreational pursuits of Maryland's citizens. Standards of performance for
other businesses are enforced by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. This Divi-
sion supervises a variety of specialized occupations including accountants, architects, engineers, cosme-
tologists, barbers, home improvement contractors, and real estate brokers.

The Office of the Secretary in the Department assists the operation of the five Divisions by perform-
ing services such as complaint adjudication, fiscal accountability, personnel management, data
processing, management analysis, printing, and legal assistance (Code 1957, Art. 41, secs. 221-221E).