State Agencies

industry, investigates complaints filed by home-
owners against individuals operating as home im-
provement contractors, and takes administrative
or legal action when violations of the law are
found (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs. 245-269).

Subject to the evaluation and reestablishment
provisions of the Program Evaluation Act (sunset
law), authorization for the Commission continues
until July 1, 1992 (Chapter 519, Acts of 1982).

REAL ESTATE COMMISSION OF
MARYLAND

Chairperson: Albert L. Jones, 1983
Vice-Chairperson: William C. Harloff, 1985

Daniel W. Spaulding, 1983; Donald E. Howard,
1984; John J. Moran, Jr., 1984; James C.
Latham, 1985; Michael P. Goodfellow, 1986;
Robert E. Mitchell, 1986.

Executive Director: Charles G. Chambers

501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6230
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7521

Originally established by Chapter 351, Acts of
1939, the Real Estate Commission had its mem-
bership expanded by Chapter 617, Acts of 1961.
Composition of the Commission was redefined by
Chapter 506, Acts of 1966; Chapter 653, Acts of
1971; and Chapter 851, Acts of 1974. The Com-
mission is composed of eight members appointed
by the Governor with the advice of the Secretary
of Licensing and Regulation and the advice and
consent of the Senate. Of the members, one each
represents the Eastern Shore, Central Maryland,
Baltimore City, Southern Maryland, and Western
Maryland, and three represent the State at large.
The at large members cannot be engaged in the
real estate business. All members must be citizens
and residents of the area for which they were
appointed for not less than five years, and, except
for the at large members, they must have been ac-
tively engaged in the real estate business for ten
years prior to appointment. The Commission se-
lects its own chairperson.

The Real Estate Commission licenses all real
estate brokers and salesmen doing business in
Maryland. Each applicant for a real estate sales-
man's or broker's license must complete courses
relating to principles of real estate in order to
qualify for examination.

The Commission has the power to revoke, re-
fuse, or suspend the license of any person for vio-
lating the real estate laws or for unethical con-
duct. By Chapter 648, Acts of 1971, the Corn-

Licensing and Regulation/255

mission administers the Real Estate Guaranty
Fund of Maryland, which in essence bonds all li-
censees (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs. 212-232).

Subject to the evaluation and reestablishment
provisions of the Program Evaluation Act (sunset
law), authorization for the Commission continues
until July 1, 1992 (Chapter 519, Acts of 1982).

REAL ESTATE HEARING BOARD

The Real Estate Hearing Board was created by
Chapter 89, Acts of 1968. By this law, the Real
Estate Commission of Maryland may appoint,
with the approval of the Secretary of Licensing
and Regulation, three of its members to sit as a
real estate hearing board. The Commission desig-
nates one of its members as Board chairperson,
while all Commission members serve on the
Board on a rotating basis.

The Commission may refer charges or com-
plaints made by itself or other persons under the
provisions of Section 224 of Article 56 of the
Code to the Board for hearings on these matters.
The Board holds hearings on all matters referred
to it and submits its findings and recommenda-
tions to the Commission. The exercise or perfor-
mance of all powers, authority, duty, and func-
tions vested in the Board by the law are subject
to the power and authority of the Secretary of Li-
censing and Regulation as set forth in Article 41
of the Code and elsewhere in the laws of Mary-
land (Code 1957, Art. 56, sec. 224A).

Subject to the evaluation and reestablishment
provisions of the Program Evaluation Act (sunset
law), authorization for the Board continues until
July 1, 1988 (Chapter 375, Acts of 1981).

LICENSING BOARDS

Executive Director: Judith A. Black

501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6322
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7521

The Executive Director of the Licensing Boards
provides centralized administrative staff for the
State Board of Examining Engineers, State Board
of Electrical Examiners and Supervisors, State
Board of Commissioners uf Practical Plumbing,
Board of Examiners of Hearing Aid Dealers,
Maryland Architectural Registration Board, State
Board of Registration for Professional Engineers,
State Board of Public Accountancy, State Board
of Registration for Foresters, Board of Examiners
of Landscape Architects, State Board of Registra-
tion for Professional Land Surveyors, Board of