Ch. 369

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

corporation, the name and address of each of its officers and directors]; (2) whether any
other insurance license or certificate has been issued to the applicant[, and, if the
applicant be an individual, whether any such license has been issued theretofore to any
officer or director of such corporation]; (3) the business in which the applicant has been
engaged for the year next preceding the date of the application, and, if employed by
another, the name or names and address or addresses of such employer or employers; (4)
such other information as the Commissioner may require of applicants to enable him to
determine their trustworthiness and competency to transact the business of public
adjuster in such manner as to safeguard the interest of the public.

(g) The Commissioner shall in order to determine the competency of such
applicant for a license to act as a public adjuster require such applicant to submit to a
written examination [for which a $15 fee shall be charged].

(h) An application for a public adjuster license must be signed and verified by the
applicant [and, if made by a partnership or association, by each member thereof, and if
made by a corporation, by each officer and director thereof who is to be authorized to act
as a public adjuster].

[(i) A corporate, association, or partnership licensee may at any time apply for the
issuance of a supplemental license which authorizes the addition of qualified individuals
to act as public adjusters.]

[(j)] (I) Whenever the Commissioner shall be satisfied that an applicant for, or
holder of, a license (1) has violated any provisions of this article, (2) has made a material
misstatement in the application for such license, (3) has engaged in fraudulent or
dishonest practices, or (4) has demonstrated his incompetency or untrustworthiness to
transact the business of a public adjuster, the Commissioner may refuse an original or
renewal license or revoke the license, as the case may be, or he may suspend the license
for such length of time as he may think proper.

[(k)] (J) This section shall not apply to an adjuster for or an agent or employee of
an insurer or group of insurers under common control or ownership, who as
representative of such insurer or group, adjusts loss or damage under policies issued by
such insurer or group, nor to a broker acting as adjuster without compensation for an
insured for whom he is acting as a broker. This section shall not apply to attorneys at law
who are not regularly engaged in the services authorized by this section to be performed
by public adjusters and who do not hold themselves out by sign, advertisement or
otherwise as offering such services to the general public.

[(l)] (K) An examination may not be required of any individual who was licensed
as a public adjuster in this State on June 30, 1985.

[(m)](L) Any person licensed as a public adjuster in accordance with the
provisions of this section may be styled and known as a "certified public adjuster".

[(n)] (M) No public adjuster license shall be issued by the Commissioner to any
applicant who has not been a bona fide resident of the State of Maryland continuously for
at least one year next preceding the date of filing of any application under the provisions
of this section.

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