1. (a)

   1. (1) In this section, “service provider” includes a mortgage lender, a mortgage broker, a real estate appraiser, a home inspector, a plumber, an electrician, and a heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration contractor.
   2. (2) “Service provider” does not include a home improvement contractor.
2. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, if a licensee offers the name of a service provider to a client in the provision of real estate brokerage services, the licensee need not verify that the service provider is currently licensed by the State to perform the services.

3. (c) If a licensee offers the name of a home improvement contractor to a client, the licensee shall:

   1. (1) annually verify that the home improvement contractor is licensed by the Home Improvement Commission under Title 8 of the Business Regulation Article to act as a home improvement contractor before offering the name to the client; and
   2. (2) inform the client of the website on which the licensing information may be found, and the date on which the licensee verified the information.

Added by Acts 2016, c. 432, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2016, c. 433, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016.