A requirement in this article that a document be under oath means that the document shall be supported by a signed statement made under the penalties of perjury that the contents of the document are true to the best of the knowledge, information, and belief of the individual making the statement. The oath or affirmation shall be made: before an individual authorized to administer oaths, who shall certify in writing to have administered the oath or taken the affirmation; or by a signed statement that: is in the document or attached to and made part of the document; and is made expressly under the penalties for perjury. If the procedures provided in subsection (b)(2) of this section are used, the affidavit subjects the individual making it to the penalties for perjury to the same extent as an oath or affirmation made before an individual authorized to administer oaths.

Before any license or permit may be issued under this article to an employer to engage in an activity in which the employer may employ a covered employee, as defined in § 9-101 of the Labor and Employment Article, the employer shall file with the issuing authority: a certificate of compliance with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act; or the number of a workers’ compensation insurance policy or binder.

This section does not apply in Baltimore City or Prince George’s and Worcester counties. Except as otherwise provided in this article or Title 13, Subtitle 1 and Subtitle 3, Part I and §§ 13–205 and 16–115 of the Local Government Article and Title 17, Subtitle 4, Parts V and VI of the Business Regulation Article, a county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State may not: require a local license in that county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision to engage in a business or occupation for which a State license is required under this article; or impose a local fee or tax to engage in a business or occupation for which a State license is required under this article. A county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State may require a local license if necessary for regulatory purposes in the interest of the public health, safety, or morals. A public local law passed after October 1, 1941 does not repeal any provision of this section unless the public local law expressly refers to and repeals the provision.

Before any license or permit may be issued under this article, the applicant shall certify to the issuing authority that the applicant has paid all undisputed taxes and unemployment insurance contributions payable to the Comptroller or the Maryland Department of Labor or has provided for payment in a manner satisfactory to the unit responsible for collection. Before any license or permit may be renewed under this article, the issuing authority shall verify through the Office of the Comptroller that the applicant has paid all undisputed taxes and unemployment insurance contributions payable to the Comptroller or the Secretary of Labor or that the applicant has provided for payment in a manner satisfactory to the unit responsible for collection.

This section does not apply to a licensed real estate associate broker or salesperson affiliated with a licensed real estate broker as an independent contractor. By August 31 of each year, the Department shall provide to the Department of Assessments and Taxation a list of persons issued licenses, certificates, or permits under this article during the previous fiscal year, to assist the Department of Assessments and Taxation in identifying new businesses within the State. The list provided under this section shall: be provided free of charge; and include, for each person on the list: the name and mailing address of the person; and the federal tax identification number of the person or, if the person does not have a federal tax identification number, the Social Security number of the person.

A person who must have a license issued by the Department under this article but does not get the license on time shall pay, in addition to the required license fee, a late fee. The late fee shall be the sum of: up to 20% of the required license fee for the calendar month following the calendar month when the required license fee is due; and up to 4% of the required license fee for each calendar month or part of a month after that.

In this section, “license” means all or any part of permission that: is required by law to be obtained from a unit; is not required only for revenue purposes; and is in any form, including: an approval; a certificate; a charter; a permit; or a registration. This section: applies only to a fee for an initial license issued for a 2-year term under the provisions of this article; does not apply to a fee renewal of a license; and may not affect any other law that requires a unit to prorate a fee on any basis for the issuance or renewal of a license. For a license issued at any time during the first year of the term of the license, the issuing authority shall charge the full amount of the fee to the license applicant. For a license issued in the second year of the term of the license, the issuing authority shall charge the license applicant: one-half of the fee, if issued in the first 6 months of the second year; or one-quarter of the fee, if issued in the last 6 months of the second year.

If payment of the fee for the issuance or renewal of a license, issued by the Department or by a unit within the Department, is made by a check or other negotiable instrument that is dishonored, the license for which the fee was paid shall be suspended by operation of law. Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the suspension is effective beginning on the tenth business day after the day on which notice is sent in accordance with subsection (b) of this section until the date that payment of the fee, and any late charge provided for in this article, has been made. When the Department or a unit within the Department receives notice that a check or other negotiable instrument, given by an applicant in payment of a license issuance or renewal fee, has been dishonored, it shall inform the applicant by regular mail sent to the applicant’s last known business address, that the license will be suspended by operation of law if within 10 business days from the date of the notice the applicant fails to make payment of the fee, and any late charge, or fails to present evidence to the Department or unit that the notice of dishonor was in error. An applicant shall be given a prompt opportunity to make payment of the fee, and any late charge, or to present evidence to the Department or unit that the notice of dishonor was in error. If a license is suspended under subsection (a) of this section, the license shall be reinstated effective the date that the license was suspended, if within 5 business days after the date of the suspension the applicant: pays the late fee and any late charge; or presents evidence to the Department or the unit that the notice of dishonor was in error. Suspension of a license under this section may not affect any otherwise valid claim under any guaranty fund made by a person who dealt in good faith with a licensee, without knowledge of the suspension.