State Agencies

violations of the law. Following a formal hearing,
the Commissioner may suspend or revoke a li-
cense upon a finding of illegal activity (Code Fi-
nancial Institutions Article, secs. 11-101 through
11-419).

Upon the filing of a written complaint and af-
ter a formal hearing, the Commissioner has the
authority to protect the consumer under the Re-
tail Credit Accounts Law and the Retail Install-
ment Sales Act by the issuance of an order
against a seller to cease and desist from a practice
in violation of these laws (Code Commercial Law
Article, secs. 12-514, 12-631).

The office also administers the Maryland Fair
Credit Reporting Act and the Maryland Equal
Credit Opportunity Act, except that the office of
the State Banking Commission has sole jurisdic-
tion for administration of banking institutions
(Code Commercial Law Article, secs. 12-701
through 12-708, 14-1201 through 14-1218).

Subject to the evaluation and reestablishment
provisions of the Program Evaluation Act (sunset
law), authorization for the Commissioner of
Consumer Credit continues until July 1, 1988
(Chapter 367, Acts of 1981).

COLLECTION AGENCY LICENSING
BOARD

Chairperson: Alan T. Fell, 1986

Paul E. Hartman, 1986; James J. Jones, 1986;
Noelia Miller, 1986; Leon I. Snyder, 1986.

501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6340
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7521

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 is the Commissioner of Consumer
Credit who serves as chairperson. Two members
represent debt collection agencies. 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 con-
sumer protection agency of the State.

The Board issues, suspends, and revokes li-
censes; reprimands licensees; and receives written
complaints from consumers. It holds hearings on
allegations of violations of the Consumer Debt
Collection Act by a debt collection agency, and
mediates disputes between consumers and debt
collection agencies, including suggesting monetary

Licensing and Regulation/249

compensation to the consumer. The Board serves
without compensation (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs.
323-329).

Authorization for the Board continues until
July 1, 1992 (Chapter 519, Acts of 1982).

DIVISION OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Harvey A. Epstein, Commissioner
Nancy B. Burkheimer, Deputy Commissioner

Raymond E. Lloyd, Assistant Commissioner,
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health

Hilmar B. Christianson, Assistant Commissioner,
Railroad Safety and Health

Henry R. Wolfe, Assistant Attorney General

501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-4171
Toll Free: 1-800-492-6226

Established in 1884 as the Bureau of Statistics
and Information, the Division of Labor and In-
dustry is one of the oldest governmental agencies
in this field in the United States, antedating the
U.S. Department of Labor by one year (Chapter
211, Acts of 1884). After 1892 the Department
was known as the Industrial Bureau. A reorgani-
zation in 1916 renamed it the State Board of La-
bor and Statistics and gave it enforcement powers
for all the factory acts. The General Assembly
made further changes by Chapter 747, Acts of
1939, and created the present Division in 1945 as
the Department of Labor and Industry (Chapter
938, Acts of 1945). 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. Under the direction of
the Commissioner, the Division 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 bar-
gaining 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), Farm Labor Contractor Registration
(Code 1957, Art. 100, secs. 80A-80F), Wage and
Hour Law (Code 1957, Art. 100, secs. 81-93), Lie
Detector Tests (Code 1957, Art. 100, sec. 95),