during good behavior and may be relieved for in-
competency or other cause only after a hearing by
the Department.

Brochures explaining the assessment process
and related matters, such as appeals and tax cred-
its, are available at each local assessment office.
They also may be obtained from the Director's
Office in Baltimore.

The Department is custodian of domestic char-
ters for Maryland corporations and of qualifica-
tions and registrations for limited partnerships
and foreign corporations. Specified fees are col-
lected, and the personalty of such corporations is
assessed by the Department. Thereafter, the val-
ues are certified to the subdivisions for application
of local tax rates. The Department also adminis-
ters franchise taxes applicable to the net income
of banks and savings and loans associations, and
to the gross receipts of public service corpora-
tions.

Property location maps are prepared by the
Map Division. These maps, which delineate prop-
erty boundaries, comprise a complete inventory of
all land in the State. They are drawn to scale and
are integrated into the State Grid System. They
show ownership, sizes, references, and natural and
man-made features. Aside from their public use-
fulness, they are an invaluable tool in making
property assessments. The Map Division also
prepares maps showing the different grades of
soils, based upon agricultural capability.

The Department administers the Homeowners'
and Renters' Property Tax Credit Programs.
These Programs provide in excess of $45 million
in State-funded property tax credits to homeown-
ers and renters who qualify based on an income
test. The Homeowners' Program is available to all
homeowners in Maryland, regardless of age, while
the Renters' Program applies to renters age 60 or
over, or permanently disabled.

The Department also provides clerical assis-
tance, as necessary, to several local Property Tax
Assessment Appeal Boards, although the Boards
are separate and independent from the Depart-
ment.

MARYLAND AUTOMOBILE
INSURANCE FUND

Board of Trustees

Chairperson: August A. Krometis

Appointed by Governor: Rita A. Baikauskas;
Gerald H. Cooper; William H. Ross III; Fred C.

Wright.

Appointed by Board of Directors, Industry
Automobile Insurance Association: Harold D.
Covey; Richard D. Crabtree; Merrill D. Knight;
Thomas M. Mahar; Christopher Taylor. Terms
expire 1988.

The Agency

Vincent H. Howley, Executive Director

1750 Forest Dr.
Annapolis 21401 Telephone: 974-1680
Uninsured Division: 522-9100

The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund
(MAIF) was created in 1972 to replace the Mary-
land Automobile Insurance Plan and the Unsatis-
fied Claim and Judgment Fund (UCJF) (Chapter
73, Acts of 1972).

MAIF performs two basic functions: 1) it is re-
sponsible for the former UCJF duty to process
and pay certain claims against uninsured motor-
ists; and 2) it sells automobile liability insurance
to Marylanders who have been rejected by at least
two private insurers or who have had their auto-
mobile liability insurance cancelled or not re-
newed for any reason other than non-payment of
premiums. With respect to the second function,
MAIF acts as any private insurance company and
is subject to regulation by the Insurance Commis-
sioner.

Every owner of a motor vehicle registered in
Maryland must maintain the basic required pri-
mary coverage of $20,000/$40,000 bodily injury,
$10,000 property damage, and $2,500 economic
loss coverage. Such compulsory insurance is in-
tended to reduce substantially the number of un-
insured claims. It is not expected, however, that
uninsured claims will disappear completely. There
will be hit-and-run accidents, out-of-state unin-
sured drivers, and Marylanders who will not com-
ply with the law. For these reasons, the UCJF
function has been retained.

MAIF receives no general funds from the State
and its assets are not part of the State Treasury.
Present MAIF assets are derived from four
sources: 1) Monies collected from premiums and
earnings from investments (Code 1957, Art. 48A,
sees. 243-243L); 2) assessments, when required,
levied against all automobile insurers (Code 1957,
Art. 48A, sees. 243A, 243M-243N); 3) funds re-
covered from uninsured motorists by the Unin-
sured Division; and 4) penalties imposed by the