MD
Maryland House Bill HB996

Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB996 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 482
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 482
5-(House Bill 996)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ *hb0996*
89
9-Consumer Protection – Consumer Council – Name Change and Other
10-Modifications
10+HOUSE BILL 996
11+I3 4lr3329
1112
12-FOR the purpose of changing the name of the Consumer Council in the Division of
13-Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General to the Consumer
14-Protection Commission; authorizing the members of the Commission to receive
15-certain per diem compensation; and generally relating to consumer protection.
13+By: Delegate White Holland
14+Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2024
15+Assigned to: Economic Matters
16+Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17+House action: Adopted
18+Read second time: March 1, 2024
1619
17-BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
18- Article – Commercial Law
19-Section 13–201
20- Annotated Code of Maryland
21- (2013 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
20+CHAPTER ______
2221
23-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
24- Article – Commercial Law
25-Section 13–202 and 13–205(a)(1)
26- Annotated Code of Maryland
27- (2013 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
22+AN ACT concerning 1
2823
29- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
30-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
24+Consumer Protection – Consumer Council – Name Change and Other 2
25+Modifications 3
3126
32-Article – Commercial Law
27+FOR the purpose of changing the name of the Consumer Council in the Division of 4
28+Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General to the Consumer 5
29+Protection Commission; authorizing the members of the Commission to receive 6
30+certain per diem compensation; and generally relating to consumer protection. 7
3331
34-13–201.
32+BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
33+ Article – Commercial Law 9
34+Section 13–201 10
35+ Annotated Code of Maryland 11
36+ (2013 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
3537
36- (a) There is a Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney
37-General.
38+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
39+ Article – Commercial Law 14
40+Section 13–202 and 13–205(a)(1) 15
41+ Annotated Code of Maryland 16
42+ (2013 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 17
3843
39- (b) The Division shall administer this subtitle.
44+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
45+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
4046
41-13–202.
47+Article – Commercial Law 20
48+ 2 HOUSE BILL 996
4249
43- (a) (1) There is a Consumer [Council] PROTECTION COMMISSION in the
44-Division.
4550
46- (2) The [Council] COMMISSION shall advise the Division on general goals
47-for the development of programs, undertake studies and issue reports, and foster
48-cooperation among federal, State, and local agencies and private groups. Ch. 482 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
51+13–201. 1
4952
50-– 2 –
53+ (a) There is a Division of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney 2
54+General. 3
5155
52- (b) (1) The [Council] COMMISSION consists of:
56+ (b) The Division shall administer this subtitle. 4
5357
54- (i) The Division Chief; and
58+13–202. 5
5559
56- (ii) Nine members appointed by the Governor with the advice and
57-consent of the Senate.
60+ (a) (1) There is a Consumer [Council] PROTECTION COMMISSION in the 6
61+Division. 7
5862
59- (2) The members appointed by the Governor shall be divided into three
60-categories, as follows:
63+ (2) The [Council] COMMISSION shall advise the Division on general goals 8
64+for the development of programs, undertake studies and issue reports, and foster 9
65+cooperation among federal, State, and local agencies and private groups. 10
6166
62- (i) Three members to represent consumer groups or interests;
67+ (b) (1) The [Council] COMMISSION consists of: 11
6368
64- (ii) Three members to represent business groups or interests; and
69+ (i) The Division Chief; and 12
6570
66- (iii) Three members to represent the public sector.
71+ (ii) Nine members appointed by the Governor with the advice and 13
72+consent of the Senate. 14
6773
68- (3) (I) The term of membership is six years, except that, of the original
69-appointees, one of each category shall serve a six–year term, one of each category shall
70-serve a four–year term, and one of each category shall serve a two–year term.
74+ (2) The members appointed by the Governor shall be divided into three 15
75+categories, as follows: 16
7176
72- (II) A member serves until his successor is appointed and qualified.
77+ (i) Three members to represent consumer groups or interests; 17
7378
74- (III) An appointment to a vacancy in an unexpired term is limited to
75-the remainder of that term.
79+ (ii) Three members to represent business groups or interests; and 18
7680
77- (4) The members [shall serve without compensation] MAY RECEIVE PER
78-DIEM COMPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET , but shall be
79-reimbursed for all expenses reasonably incurred.
81+ (iii) Three members to represent the public sector. 19
8082
81- (5) The [Council] COMMISSION shall elect annually a [chairman] CHAIR
82-from among its members and appoint a secretary.
83+ (3) (I) The term of membership is six years, except that, of the original 20
84+appointees, one of each category shall serve a six–year term, one of each category shall 21
85+serve a four–year term, and one of each category shall serve a two–year term. 22
8386
84-13–205.
87+ (II) A member serves until his successor is appointed and qualified. 23
8588
86- (a) (1) After obtaining the advice of the Consumer [Council] PROTECTION
87-COMMISSION and holding a public hearing, the Division may adopt reasonable rules,
88-regulations, and standards appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this subtitle, including
89-rules, regulations, or standards which further define specific unfair or deceptive trade
90-practices.
89+ (III) An appointment to a vacancy in an unexpired term is limited to 24
90+the remainder of that term. 25
9191
92- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
93-October 1, 2024.
92+ (4) The members [shall serve without compensation] MAY RECEIVE PER 26
93+DIEM COMPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE BUDGET , but shall be 27
94+reimbursed for all expenses reasonably incurred. 28
95+ HOUSE BILL 996 3
9496
95-Approved by the Governor, May 9, 2024.
97+
98+ (5) The [Council] COMMISSION shall elect annually a [chairman] CHAIR 1
99+from among its members and appoint a secretary. 2
100+
101+13–205. 3
102+
103+ (a) (1) After obtaining the advice of the Consumer [Council] PROTECTION 4
104+COMMISSION and holding a public hearing, the Division may adopt reasonable rules, 5
105+regulations, and standards appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this subtitle, including 6
106+rules, regulations, or standards which further define specific unfair or deceptive trade 7
107+practices. 8
108+
109+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
110+October 1, 2024. 10
111+
112+
113+
114+
115+Approved:
116+________________________________________________________________________________
117+ Governor.
118+________________________________________________________________________________
119+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.
120+________________________________________________________________________________
121+ President of the Senate.