SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                       1609

(p) Certificate as evidence.

The issuance of a certificate of registration by the Inspector shall
be evidence that the person named therein is entitled to engage
in business as a general contractor or sub-contractor while the certifi-
cate remains unrevoked or unexpired.

(q) Prerequisites to obtaining building, etc., permit.

(1)    Any person upon making application to the building in-
spector or such other authority of any incorporated city or town,
or county in this State, charged with the duty of issuing building
or other permits for the construction of any building, highway,
sewer, grading or any improvement or structure where the cost
thereof is to be $20,000 or more, shall, before he be entitled to the
issuance of such permit, provide satisfactory proof to such Inspector
or authority that he is duly registered under the provisions of this
subtitle to carry out or superintend the same and that he had paid
the taxes or license required by the laws of this State, or other
political subdivision thereof, then in force so as to be qualified to
bid upon or contract for the work for which the permit has been
applied.

(2)    It shall be unlawful for such building inspector or any other
authority to issue or allow the issuance of such building permit
unless the applicant has furnished evidence that he is either exempt
from the provisions of this subtitle or is duly registered under
this subtitle to carry out or superintend the work for which such
permit has been applied, and further that the applicant has paid
the license then in force so as to be qualified to bid upon or contract
work covered by the permit, such building inspector or other such
authority, violating the terms of this Section shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.

(r) Invitations to bid and specifications must refer to law.

All architects and engineers preparing plans and specifications
for work to be contracted in Maryland shall include in their invita-
tion to the bidder and in their specifications a reference to the
subtitle so as to convey to the invited bidder, whether he be a
resident or non-resident of this State and whether a certificate of
registration has been issued to him or not, the information that
it will be necessary for him to show evidence of a certificate of regis-
tration before his bid is considered.

(s) Non-resident bidders must appoint statutory agent for serv-
ice of process.

Before any non-resident person or any foreign corporation, shall
bid on any work in this State, such non-resident person or any
foreign corporation shall by written power of attorney, appoint
the Comptroller and his successor in the office, the agent of such
non-resident person or foreign corporation upon whom all lawful
process against or notice to such non-resident person or any foreign
corporation may be served and who shall be authorized to enter an
appearance in behalf of such non-resident person or any foreign
corporation.