2023 Maryland Statutes › Business Regulation › Title 8 - Home Improvement › Subtitle 3 - Licensing › Section 8-311 - Denials, Reprimands, Suspensions, and Revocations -- Grounds; Penalty

(a)    Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–312 of this subtitle, the Commission may deny a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke a license if the applicant or licensee or the management personnel of the applicant or licensee:
(1)    fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license for the applicant or licensee or for another person;
(2)    fraudulently or deceptively uses a license;
(3)    fails to give the Commission information required by this subtitle about an application for a license;
(4)    fails to pass an examination required by this subtitle;
(5)    under the laws of the United States or of any state, is convicted of a:
(i)    felony; or
(ii)    misdemeanor that is directly related to the fitness and qualification of the applicant or licensee to engage in home improvement services;
(6)    often fails to perform home improvement contracts;
(7)    falsifies an account;
(8)    engages in fraud;
(9)    as a contractor fails to show financial solvency, based on the intended scope and size of the business in relation to total assets, liabilities, credit rating, and net worth;
(10)    as a contractor lacks competence, as shown by the performance of an unworkmanlike, inadequate, or incomplete home improvement;
(11)    violates this title;
(12)    attempts to violate this title;
(13)    violates a regulation adopted under this title; or
(14)    in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, as defined under § 8–1802 of the Natural Resources Article, fails to comply with:
(i)    the terms of a State or local permit, license, or approval issued for home improvement; or
(ii)    any State or local law, an approved plan, or other legal requirement.
(b)    Subject to the hearing provisions of § 8–312 of this subtitle, the Commission may reprimand a contractor or suspend or revoke the license of a contractor for a violation of this title by an agent, director, employee, manager, officer, partner, or salesperson of the contractor, unless the Commission finds that the contractor or management personnel of the contractor:
(1)    had no knowledge of the wrongful conduct; or
(2)    could not prevent the violation.
(c)    Instead of or in addition to reprimanding a licensee or suspending or revoking a license, the Commission may impose a civil penalty under § 8-620 of this title.
(d)    The Commission shall consider the following facts in the granting, denial, renewal, suspension, or revocation of a license or the reprimand of a licensee when an applicant or licensee is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor described in subsection (a)(5) of this section:
(1)    the nature of the crime;
(2)    the relationship of the crime to the activities authorized by the license;
(3)    with respect to a felony, the relevance of the conviction to the fitness and qualification of the applicant or licensee to provide home improvement services;
(4)    the length of time since the conviction; and
(5)    the behavior and activities of the applicant or licensee before and after the conviction.