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<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="7-304" title_number="7" title_name="Collection Agencies" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Licenses">
  <level label="a">
    <text>With an application for a new license, an applicant shall file a surety bond with the Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The bond shall run to the Board, as obligee, for the benefit of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the State; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>any member of the public who has a loss or other damage as a result of a violation of this title or the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act by the applicant or an agent or employee of the applicant.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The bond shall be:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in the amount determined by the Board under subsection (j) of this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>issued by a surety company that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is authorized to do business in the State; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>holds a certificate of authority issued by the Maryland Insurance Commissioner; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>conditioned that the licensee shall comply with the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act and any other laws applicable to consumer debt collection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The liability of the surety:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall be continuous;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may not be aggregated or cumulative, whether or not the bond is renewed, continued, replaced, or modified;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>may not be determined by adding together the penal sum of the bond, or any part of the penal sum of the bond, in existence at any two or more points in time;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>shall be considered to be one continuous obligation, regardless of increases or decreases in the penal sum of the bond;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>may not be affected by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the insolvency or bankruptcy of the licensee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any misrepresentation, breach of warranty, failure to pay a premium, or any other act or omission of the licensee or an agent of the licensee; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the suspension of the licensee’s license;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>may not require an administrative enforcement action by the Board as a prerequisite to liability; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>shall continue for 3 years after the later of the date on which:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the bond is canceled; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the licensee, for any reason, ceases to be licensed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A bond may be canceled by the surety or the licensee by giving notice of cancellation to the Board.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>be in writing; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A cancellation of a bond under this subsection is not effective until 90 days after receipt of a notice of cancellation by the Board.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A claim against the bond may be filed with the surety by:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>a claimant; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the Board for the benefit of a claimant or the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>If the amount of claims against a bond exceeds the amount of the bond, the surety:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall pay the amount of the bond to the Board for pro rata distribution to claimants; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>is relieved of liability under the bond.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>If the penal amount of the bond is reduced by payment of a claim or judgment, the licensee shall file a new or additional bond with the Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>A penalty imposed against a licensee under § 7–205(b) of this title may be collected and paid from the proceeds of a bond required under this subsection.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The amount of the surety bond required under subsection (c) of this section shall be in an amount of not less than $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000, as determined by the Board for each licensee.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In setting the amount of the surety bond, the Board may consider:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the nature and volume of the business or proposed business of the licensee or applicant;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the financial condition of the licensee or applicant, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the amount, nature, quality, and liquidity of the assets of the licensee or applicant;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the amount and nature of the liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of the licensee or applicant;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the history of and prospects for the licensee or applicant to earn and retain income; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the potential harm to consumers if the applicant or licensee becomes financially impaired;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the quality of the operations of the licensee or applicant;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the quality of the management of the licensee or applicant;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the nature and quality of each control person; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>any other factor that the Board considers relevant.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
