Through its proper officer or agent, each licensee promptly shall notify the Commissioner of the name, title, and address of each individual the licensee desires to appoint as a representative in the State. The notice required by this section shall be: filed with the Commissioner on the form that the Commissioner provides; and accompanied by: an initial registration fee of $5; and a statement in writing, by the appointee, that gives: the appointee’s name, age, residence address, business address, present occupation, and occupation for the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the notice; the names of motor clubs represented during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the notice and where represented; and any other information the Commissioner requires.

The Commissioner shall issue a registration certificate to an appointee if it appears to the Commissioner that the appointee: is a suitable and competent individual of good moral character; intends to represent to the public in good faith that the appointee is a representative; has not previously been denied registration or had a registration revoked under § 26-307 of this subtitle; and otherwise meets the requirements of this subtitle.

A registration certificate shall state in substance that the individual named in the registration certificate is a registered representative of a licensee in the State.

While a representative’s registration remains in effect, a licensee is bound by the acts of the representative named in the registration certificate within the representative’s apparent or actual authority.

A registration expires on the first August 31 after its effective date unless it is renewed as provided in this section. At least 1 month before a registration expires, the Commissioner shall send to the licensee, at the last known address of the licensee or electronic mail address of the licensee on record a notice that states: the process for renewing the registration; the date by which the Commissioner must receive the renewal application; and the amount of the renewal fee. Before a registration expires, the licensee may renew the registration of a representative for an additional 1–year term if: the representative otherwise is entitled to a registration; the licensee files with the Commissioner a renewal application: on the form that the Commissioner provides; or in an electronic format that the Commissioner approves; and the licensee pays to the Commissioner a registration renewal fee of $2. The Commissioner shall renew the registration of a representative if the licensee and representative meet the requirements of this section.

If a licensee cancels a representative’s authority to act for the licensee, the licensee immediately shall provide written notice of the cancellation to the Commissioner.

Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the Commissioner shall deny a registration to an appointee or revoke the registration of a registered representative if the Commissioner, for cause and after a hearing, determines that the appointee or representative: has made a false or misleading statement about the services offered by, or the business of, the licensee represented by the appointee or representative; has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; or is otherwise unsuitable to act as a representative. If the Commissioner denies or revokes a registration under this section, the Commissioner shall notify the licensee and the representative or appointee of the denial or revocation in writing. The Commissioner need not deny or revoke a registration under this section if the Commissioner concludes, based on all the facts and circumstances, that the public interest would not be served by the denial or revocation.

A representative or appointee that is adversely affected by an order of the Commissioner may seek judicial review of the order in accordance with § 2-215 of this article.