<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 10.29.10.03" title_num="10" subtitle_num="29" chapter_num="10" heading="Imposition of Penalties on Licensees.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>A penalty of not less than $100 or more than $2,500 may be imposed by the Board on a licensee found in violation of any of the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Advertising falsely;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Advertising in a misleading manner;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Employing, paying, or offering to pay an individual to obtain business, either in general or for a particular mortician, funeral director, surviving spouse, or funeral establishment.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Directly or indirectly paying or offering to pay to obtain mortuary science business;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Soliciting or accepting any payment or rebate for recommending any crematory, mausoleum, or cemetery;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Soliciting or accepting any share, certificate, or interest in a mortuary science business with a promise or offer to perform services to the buyer at a cost less than that offered to the general public.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Selling or offering to sell any share, certificate, or interest in a mortuary science business with a promise or offer to perform services to the buyer at a cost less than that offered to the general public.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Practicing mortuary science under a name other than the name:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>That appears on the license of that person; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Of a partnership in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §7-401, Annotated Code of Maryland; or</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Violating any provision of Health Occupations Article, §7-316(a)(18), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Violating any regulation adopted by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>A penalty of not less than $200 or more than $3,500 may be imposed by the Board on a licensee found in violation of any of the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Soliciting mortuary science business, either personally or by an agent, from a dying individual or the relatives of a dead or dying individual, other than through general advertising;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Refusing to surrender custody of a dead human body on the demand of a person who is entitled to its custody;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Failing to give the written statement required by Health Occupations Article, §7-404, Annotated Code of Maryland, at the time funeral arrangements are made;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Violating any State, municipal, or county law, rule, or regulation on the handling, custody, care, transportation, or the disposal of dead human bodies, as required by Health Occupations Article, §7-316(a)(15), Annotated Code of Maryland;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Signing an application for a funeral establishment license if the signer knew or should have known that grounds existed for which the funeral establishment license later was denied, suspended, or revoked;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any other state or county or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board's disciplinary statutes;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Willfully failing to file or record a report as required under law;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Willfully impeding or obstructing the filing or recording of a report;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Inducing another to fail to file or record the report;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Providing professional services while:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Under the influence of alcohol; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance, as defined in Criminal Law Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, or other drug that is in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication; or</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Failing to allow an inspection under Health Occupations Article, §7-205(8), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>A penalty of not less than $500 or more than $5,000 may be imposed by the Board on a licensee found in violation of any of the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Fraudulently or deceptively obtaining or attempting to obtain a license for the applicant or licensee or for another;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Fraudulantly or deceptively using a license;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Committing fraud or misrepresentation in the practice of mortuary science;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or to a crime involving moral turpitude, whether any appeal or other proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Aiding or abetting an unauthorized person in the practice of mortuary science;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Failing, after proper demand, to refund promptly any payments received under a preneed contract;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Willfully making or filing a false report or record in the practice of mortuary science;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Submitting a false statement to collect a fee;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Being professionally, physically, or mentally incompetent;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Committing an act of unprofessional conduct in the practice of mortuary science;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Refusing, withholding from, denying, or discriminating against an individual with regard to the provision of professional services for which the licensee is licensed and qualified to render because the individual is HIV positive;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>Except in an emergency life-threatening situation where it is not feasible or practicable, failing to comply with the Centers for Disease Control's guidelines on universal precautions;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>Failing to comply with inspection requirements in the time specified by the Board; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>Sexual misconduct that includes, but is not limited to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Sexual behavior with a consumer in the context of a professional service to the consumer, regardless of the setting in which the professional service is rendered;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Sexual behavior with a consumer of funeral services under the pretext of a benefit;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Solicitation of a sexual relationship, whether consensual or nonconsensual, with a consumer of funeral services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Sexual advances requesting sexual favors;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Inappropriate or intentional touching of a sexual nature;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A verbal comment of a sexual nature;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Physical contact of a sexual nature with a consumer of funeral services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Discussion of unnecessary sexual matters while providing funeral services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(i)">
        <text>The taking of photographs of consumers of funeral services for a sexual purpose;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(j)">
        <text>Sexual harassment of staff or students;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(k)">
        <text>An unnecessary sensual act or comment; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(l)">
        <text>Sexual contact with an incompetent or unconscious consumer of funeral services.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>