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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".15" citation="COMAR 31.08.09.15" title_num="31" subtitle_num="08" chapter_num="09" heading="Prohibited Unfair Trade Practices.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The following actions by a group are prohibited unfair trade practices and are violations of this regulation:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Excluding an employer from a group for any reason based in whole or in part upon race, color, creed, sex, or blindness of the employer or its employees, or for any arbitrary, capricious, or unfairly discriminatory reason;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Excluding an employer from a group by the application of standards which are not reasonably related to the group's economic and business purposes; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Requiring the existence of special conditions, facts, or situations as a condition to acceptance or continuance in a group of a particular employer in an arbitrary, capricious, or unfairly discriminatory manner based in whole or in part upon race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, place of residency, or blindness or other physical handicap or disability of the employer or its employees.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>If, after written notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Commissioner finds that a group has committed a prohibited unfair trade practice, as defined in this regulation, the Commissioner may exercise the powers conferred upon him by Insurance Article, §25-308, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>