HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               1185

(a) The holder of any expiring license, other than
special licenses issued under the provisions of this
article, shall, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
before the first day of May of each and every year, file a
written application, duly verified by oath, for the renewal
of the license with the official authorized to approve the
same. The renewal application shall state that the facts in
the original application are unchanged. It shall 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. In the
case of retail dealers applying for renewal, the statement
of consent by the owner of the premises may not be required
if the owner has previously signed such a statement in
connection with an original application or previous renewal
application giving consent for the term of the owner's lease
with the applicant if the lease or renewal does not expire
during the term of the renewal license. Upon the filing of
the renewal application, and upon payment of the annual fee,
the holder of the expiring license is 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 the license. A license by way of renewal may not be
approved without a hearing before such official if a protest
[signed by not less than ten residents or real estate owners
in the immediate vicinity 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
the new license at least 30 days before the expiration of
the license for which renewal is sought. THIS PROTEST SHALL
BE (1) SIGNED BY NOT LESS THAN TEN RESIDENTS OR REAL ESTATE
OWNERS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY IN WHICH THE LICENSED PLACE
OF BUSINESS IS LOCATED; OR (2) INSTITUTED BY THE LICENSING
BOARD BOARD OF LICENSING COMMISSIONERS ON ITS OWN
INITIATIVE; OR (3) IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, INSTITUTED BY
THE MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THE LICENSED PLACE OF BUSINESS IS
LOCATED SUBSEQUENT TO A PUBLIC HEARING BY THE MUNICIPALITY.
If the protest has been filed it shall be heard and
determined as in the case of original applications, except
in Baltimore City it shall be heard and determined not as in
the case of original application in regard to zoning but
only on a specific complaint as to the operation of the
licensee's establishments.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1979.

Approved May 14, 1979.

CHAPTER 412