1458                               Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 680

with 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
form and detail necessary to aid him in determining whether
rating systems comply with the standards set forth in this section.
The rules and plans may also provide for the recording and reporting
of expense experience items which are specially applicable to this
state and are not susceptible of determination by a prorating of
country-wide expense experience. In promulgating the rules and
plans, the Commissioner shall give due consideration to the rating
systems on file with him and in order that the 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 the rating systems in other
states. No insurer shall be required to record or report its loss ex-
perience on a classification basis that is inconsistent with the rating
system filed by it. The Commissioner may designate one or more
rating organizations or other agencies to assist him in gathering
experience and making compilations thereof, and the 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 Commis-
sioner 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 experience data with insurance
supervisory officials, insurers and rating organizations in other states
and may consult with them with respect to rate making and the
application of rating system.

(4) Rules and regulations.

The Commissioner may make reasonable rules and regulations
necessary to effect the purposes of this section.

(p) False or misleading information.

No person shall wilfully withhold information from, or know-
ingly give false or misleading information to the Commissioner, any
statistical agency designated by the Commissioner, any rating organ-
ization, or any insurer, which will affect the rates or premiums
chargeable under this section, or the proper issuance of a contract,
policy or guarantee of insurance.

(q) Penalties.

(1) The Commissioner, if he finds that any person has vio-
lated any provision of this subtitle, may impose a penalty of not more
than $250.00 for each violation, but, if he finds the violation to be
wilful, he may impose a penalty of not more than $1,000.00 for the
violation. These penalties may be in addition to any other penalty
provided by law.