124 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 167

be accompanied by a statement signed by the owner of the
premises consenting to renewal of the license and to search and
seizure as in the case of original applications; and upon the
filing of such renewal application, and upon payment of the
annual fee herein prescribed, the holder or holders of such ex-
piring 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 requested 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.

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 sub-
ject to said order. All applications for renewal received other-
wise than as herein stated shall be treated as original applica-
tions.

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
renewal; 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.

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.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take
effect June 1, 1945.

Approved February 28, 1945.