1102                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 553

him, which may be modified from time to time and which shall be
used thereafter by each insurer in the recording and reporting of its
loss and country-wide expense experience, in order that the ex-
perience of all insurers may be made available at least annually in
such form and detail as may be necessary to aid him in determining
whether rating systems comply with the standards set forth in
subsection (b). Such rules and plans may also provide for the re-
cording and reporting of expense experience items which are
specially applicable to this State and are not susceptible of determina-
tion by a prorating of country-wide expense experience. In promul-
gating such rules and plans, the Commissioner shall give due con-
sideration to the rating systems on file with him and, in order that
such rules and plans may be as uniform as is practicable among
the several states, to the rules and to the form of the plans used
for such rating systems in other states. No insurer shall be re-
quired to record or report its loss experience on a classification basis
that is inconsistent with the rating system filed by it. The Com-
missioner may designate one or more rating organizations or other
agencies to assist him in gathering such experience and making
compilations thereof, and such compilations shall be made available,
subject to reasonable rules promulgated by the Commissioner, to
insurers and rating organizations.

(2)   Interchange of Rating Plan Data. Reasonable rules and plans
may be promulgated by the Commissioner for the interchange of data
necessary for the application of rating plans.

(3)   Consultation with Other States. In order to further uniform
administration of rate regulatory laws, the Commissioner and every
insurer and rating organization may exchange information and ex-
perience data with insurance supervisory officials, insurers and rat-
ing organizations in other states and may consult with them with
respect to rate making and the application of rating systems.

(4)   Rules and Regulations. The Commissioner may make reason-
able rules and regulations necessary to effect the purposes of this
section.

(m) False or misleading information.

No person or organization shall wilfully withhold information
from, or knowingly give false or misleading information to, the
Commissioner, any statistical agency designated by the Commis-
sioner, any rating organization, or any insurer, which will affect the
rates or premiums chargeable under this section. A violation of this
subsection shall subject the one guilty of such violation to the penal-
ties provided in subsection (n).

(n) Penalties.

The Commissioner may, if he finds that any person or organization
has violated any provision of this section, impose a penalty of not
more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for each such violation, but if he
finds such violation to be wilful he may impose a penalty of not more
than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each such violation. Such
penalties may be in addition to any other penalty provided by law.

The Commissioner may suspend the license of any rating or-
ganization or insurer which fails to comply with an order of the
Commissioner within the time limited by such order, or any ex-