WM. PRESTON LANK, JR., GOVERNOR. 951

ment of the annual fee herein prescribed, the holder or holders
of such expiring license shall be entitled to a new license for
another year without the filing of further statements or the
furnishing of any further information unless specifically re-
quested by the official authorized to approve such license.
Provided, however, that no license by way of renewal shall be
approved without a hearing before such official if a protest
signed by not less than ten residents or real estate owners of
the precinct or voting district in which the licensed place of
business is located, or instituted by the licensing board on its
own initiative, has been filed against the granting of such new
license at least thirty (30) days before the expiration of the
license for which renewal is sought. If such protest has been
filed it shall be heard and determined as in the case of original
applications.

(b) If the licensing official finds that the license holder is
not qualified to obtain a renewal of the expiring license said
official shall not renew said expiring license but shall issue to
him by way of renewal the class or type of license for which
they find him qualified. If an expiring license is subject to
any order of restriction or suspension the new license shall be
issued subject to said order. All applications for renewal
received otherwise than as herein stated shall be treated as
original applications.

(c) No renewal of any license shall be granted any person
who during the license year has been convicted: of any offense
against the laws of the State or of the United States which in
the judgment of the local licensing officials is of such a nature
as to render such person unfit or disqualified to obtain said re-
newal; provided that in such a case a public hearing shall be
held by such local licensing officials prior to renewal at which
all relevant facts and circumstances of such offense may be
inquired into.

(d) The Comptroller, and the Clerk of the Court for the
City or County, as the case may be, shall be authorized to
issue such new licenses for the ensuing year as hereinabove
provided, at any time between April 15th and May 1st, of each
and every year, but all such licenses shall be dated May 1st.

(e) HARFORD COUNTY. In Harford County applications for
a renewal of license shall be in such form as the Liquor Con-
trol Board may prescribe by rules and regulations duly
adopted. Renewal applications received after April 1st may
be considered by the Board for a period of thirty days before
final action on the application is taken.

(f) PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. In Prince George's County,
any licensee may obtain a renewal license without obtaining