HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2617

(c)  Any person appointed or employed by the State, a
county, or any local government to inspect plumbing or drainage
work may not have any pecuniary interest in any plumbing
business, and, upon such appointment or employment, shall
relinquish his master's or journeyman's certificate to the Board.
Upon termination of the appointment or employment, the person may
reactivate his master's or journeyman's certificate without
examination by written request to the Board and payment of the
appropriate renewal fee. The Board may issue identification
receipts or cards to inspectors who have relinquished their
certificates.

(d)  In cases of emergency in which it would be impractical
to require two years' experience, one year's experience as a
journeyman plumber will qualify the applicant for a master's
certificate. Whenever by any of the general or local laws of this
State it is provided that a permit shall be granted to anyone
qualified to work at the plumbing business or to do plumbing
work, however the same may be designated, or that certain
appointments shall be given to or certain duties shall be
performed by one qualified to do plumbing work, or any other
reference is made to one qualified to do work which is included
under the term "plumbing work", however the same shall be
designated, then such general or local laws shall be held to
refer only to one qualified to work at the plumbing business
under his own direction, that is, one holding a certificate
authorized to be called a "master plumber's certificate", and may
not be held to refer to a journeyman plumber or to an apprentice.
Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to prevent
incorporated gas companies from making connections of gas
appliances for domestic purposes.

(e)  After a public hearing allowing all interested parties
to testify, the Board may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the
certificate or permit of any licensee or reprimand any licensee
whom the Board finds:

(1)  Has practiced any fraud, deceit, or
misrepresentation in obtaining a certificate or permit;

(2)  Is guilty of gross negligence, incompetence, or
misconduct in the performance of plumbing work;

(3)  Is guilty of violation of the plumbing code of
the Board or any subdivision or official body of this State where
a licensee has performed plumbing work;

(4)  Is guilty of an unfair or deceptive trade
practice as defined in Commercial Law Article, § 13-301 of the
Annotated Code of Maryland; or

(5)  When the licensee is a master plumber, has failed
to adequately train and control persons selling or estimating
plumbing work to be performed under his supervision.