501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6309
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7521

The Maryland Home Improvement Commission
was established by Chapter 133, Acts of 1962. The
Commission licenses and regulates contractors and
salesmen in the home improvement industry, in-
vestigates complaints filed by homeowners against
individuals operating as home improvement con-
tractors, and takes administrative or legal action
when violations of the law are found.

The Commission consists of five members ap-
pointed to four-year terms by the Governor with
the advice of the Secretary of Licensing and
Regulation. Two members must be from the home-
improvement industry, one from the field of bank-
ing or finance, and two from the general public.

Authorization for the Commission continues
until July 1, 1992 (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs.
245-269A).

REAL ESTATE COMMISSION OF
MARYLAND

Chairperson: Donald E. Howard, 1988

William C. HarlofT, 1985; James C. Latham, 1985;
Michael P. Goodfellow, 1986; Robert E.
Mitchell, 1986; Albert L. Jones, 1987; Daniel W.
Spaulding, 1987; John J. Moran, Jr., 1988.

Executive Director: Charles G. Chambers

501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6230
Toll Free: 1-801^92-7521

Originally established by Chapter 351, Acts of
1939, the Real Estate Commission of Maryland
licenses all real estate brokers and salespersons
doing business in Maryland. Each applicant for a
real estate salesperson's or broker's license must
complete courses relating to the principles of real
estate in order to qualify for examination.

The Commission has the power to revoke,
refuse, suspend, issue an official notice of repri-
mand, and/or impose a penalty of up to $2,000 per
violation to the license of any person for violating
the real estate laws or for unethical conduct. By
Chapter 648, Acts of 1971, the Commission ad-
ministers the Real Estate Guaranty Fund of Mary-
land, which in essence bonds all licensees.

The Commission is composed of eight members
appointed to four-year terms by the Governor with
the advice of the Secretary of Licensing and

Licensing and Regulation/261

Regulation and the advice and consent of the
Senate. Of the members, one each represents the
Eastern Shore, Central Maryland, Baltimore City,
Southern Maryland, and Western Maryland, and
three represent the State at large. The at large
members cannot be engaged in the real estate
business. All members must be citizens and resi-
dents of the area for which they were appointed for
not less than five years, and, except for the at large
members, they must have been actively engaged in
the real estate business for ten years prior to
appointment (Code 1957, Art. 56, secs. 212-232).

Authorization for the Commission continues
until July 1, 1992 (Chapter 519, Acts of 1982).

REAL ESTATE HEARING BOARD

The Real Estate Hearing Board was created by
Chapter 89, Acts of 1968. The law permits the
Real Estate Commission to appoint, with the
approval of the Secretary of Licensing and Regula-
tion, three of its members to sit as a real estate
hearing board. The Commission designates one of
its members as Board chairperson, while all Com-
mission members serve on the Board on a rotating
basis.

The Commission may refer charges or com-
plaints made by itself or other persons to the Board
for hearings. The Board holds hearings on all
matters referred to it and submits its findings and
recommendations to the Commission (Code 1957,
Art. 56, sec. 224A).

Authorization for the Board continues until July
1, 1988 (Chapter 375, Acts of 1981).

LICENSING BOARDS

Executive Director: John A. Evans

501 St. Paul Place
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-6322
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7521

The Executive Director of the Licensing Boards
provides centralized administrative staff for the
Maryland Architectural Registration Board;
Maryland Statewide Master Electrical Licensing
Board; State Board of Examining Engineers; State
Board of Registration for Foresters; Board of
Examiners for Hearing Aid Dealers; Maryland
Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects;
Board of Examiners of Maryland Pilots; The State
Board of Commissioners of Practical Plumbing;
State Board of Registration for Professional Engi-
neers; State Board of Registration for Professional
Land Surveyors; Maryland State Board of Public
Accountancy; and the Licensure of Secondhand