2023 Maryland Statutes › Business Occupations and Professions › Title 5 - Cosmetologists › Subtitle 5 - Beauty Salons and Cosmetology Schools › Part III - Inspections; Disciplinary Action › Section 5-522 - Denials, Reprimands, Suspensions, Revocations, and Penalties; Procedure; Opportunity to Correct Violation

(a)    (1)    Subject to the hearing provisions of § 5–523 of this subtitle, the Board may deny a beauty salon permit to any applicant, reprimand any permit holder, or suspend or revoke a beauty salon permit:
(i)    for any applicable ground under § 5–314 of this title;
(ii)    if the applicant or holder fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a beauty salon permit for the applicant or holder or for another;
(iii)    if the applicant or holder fraudulently or deceptively uses a beauty salon permit; or
(iv)    if the holder fails to pay a civil penalty imposed by the Board under § 5–610 of this title.
(2)    (i)    Instead of or in addition to reprimanding a permit holder or suspending or revoking a beauty salon permit, the Board may impose a penalty not exceeding $300 for all violations cited on a single date.
(ii)    To determine the amount of penalty imposed under this subsection, the Board shall consider:
1.    the seriousness of the violation;
2.    the good faith of the violator;
3.    the violator’s history of previous violations;
4.    the deleterious effect of the violation on the complainant, the public, and the cosmetology industry; and
5.    any other factors relevant to the determination of the financial penalty.
(3)    The Board shall pay any penalty collected under this subsection into the General Fund of the State.
(b)    (1)    The Board shall commence proceedings under this section on a complaint to the Board by a member of the Board or any person.
(2)    A complaint shall:
(i)    be in writing;
(ii)    be signed by the complainant;
(iii)    state specifically the facts on which the complaint is based;
(iv)    be submitted to the Executive Director of the Board; and
(v)    be served on the person to whom it is directed:
1.    personally; or
2.    by certified mail, return receipt requested, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service, to the person’s last known address as shown on the Board’s records.
(3)    If service is made by certified mail, the person who mails the document shall file with the Board verified proof of mailing.
(c)    (1)    Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, if the Board finds that a complaint alleges facts that are adequate grounds for action under this section, the Board shall act on the complaint as provided under § 5–523 of this subtitle to deny, suspend, or revoke a license, reprimand a licensee, or assess a penalty.
(2)    If the Board does not make the finding, the Board shall dismiss the complaint.
(d)    (1)    If the Board makes the finding under subsection (c)(1) of this section for a violation that relates to the sanitary condition of a beauty salon or the sanitary practice of cosmetology, the Board shall provide the owner of the salon an opportunity to correct the alleged violation.
(2)    If the owner fails to correct each alleged violation within 10 days of written notification of the violation by the Board, the Board shall act on the complaint as provided under § 5–523 of this subtitle.
(3)    If the owner corrects each alleged violation within 10 days of notice, the Board shall:
(i)    dismiss the complaint; and
(ii)    provide the owner written notification of the dismissal.