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Md. Seeks To Speed Up Enforcement
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But because the number of licensees and real estate transactions have mushroomed with the boom of recent years, the bill is "critically important," Antoun said.
While about 90 percent of the complaints are found to be without merit and are dismissed, they need to be looked at, Antoun said. "But it takes a long time to get through the process."
Antoun said she has heard of cases that have taken five years to process.
Ehrlich hasn't taken a position on the bill, which cleared both chambers by almost unanimous votes during the hectic last moments of the session. But an Ehrlich aide said this week that the proposal is not among bills that have been flagged because of concerns. And James D. Fielder Jr., secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, said Wednesday that he expects the bill to be signed.
The governor's next bill signing is set for April 26.
"We've worked for two years with the legislature and the governor to get this through," Fielder said. He said he has held staffing at 13 positions despite hiring freezes since he was appointed in January 2004 because of "a concern about delivery of services to the citizens and professionals."
He said he intends to hire four investigators and three other staffers with the new funding, raising the total to 20. "When you have a 60 percent increase in the number of licenses, you better be ramping up staff."
Said Antoun, "They are so understaffed that the vast majority of the time when you call the staff on the phone, you can't get through."
