<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="8-312" title_number="8" title_name="Home Improvement" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Licensing">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in § 10–226 of the State Government Article, before the Commission takes any final action under § 8–311 of this subtitle, or if requested under § 8–620(c) of this title, it shall give the person against whom the action is contemplated an opportunity for a hearing before the Commission or, as provided under § 8–313 of this subtitle, a hearing board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Commission shall give notice and hold the hearing in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Commission may administer oaths in a proceeding under this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The hearing notice to be given to the person shall be sent at least 10 days before the hearing by certified mail to the business address of the licensee on record with the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>For purposes of this subsection, the State is divided into:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the region that includes Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the region that includes Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the region that includes Baltimore City and Baltimore and Howard counties;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the region that includes Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the region that includes Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Commission shall set the time and place of the hearing but shall hold the hearing in the appropriate region to accommodate the needs of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>disabled witnesses;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>indigent witnesses; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a majority of witnesses.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The person may be represented at the hearing by counsel.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>In connection with a proceeding under this section, the Commission may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses to testify or to produce evidence; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>take testimony in the same manner and with the same fees and compensation for mileage as provided in civil cases in the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>If, after due notice, the person against whom the action is contemplated does not appear, nevertheless the Commission may hear and determine the matter.</text>
  </level>
</section>
