HEALTH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
UNIT

Vikram Khanna, Director
576-6550

Within the Division of Consumer Protection,
the Health Education and Advocacy Unit was cre-
ated in 1986 (Chapters 296 and 565, Acts of 1986).

The Unit implements an educational and advocacy

program enabling health-care consumers to make
more informed choices in the health marketplace
and participate in decisions concerning their health
care.

The Unit helps health-care consumers under-
stand their health-care bills and third party cover-
age, identify improper billing or coverage
determinations, and report such problems to ap-
propriate agencies, insurers, or providers. The Unit
may refer concerns raised by health-care consumers
to professional, licensing or disciplinary bodies. The
Unit also may recommend to government officers
and agencies measures to promote the interests of
health-care consumers in the health marketplace.

Authorization for the Unit continues until June
30, 1990 (Code Commercial Law Article, secs.
13-4A-01 through 13-4A-03).

HEALTH CLUB REGISTRATION UNIT

Steven Sakomota-Wengel, Administrator
576-6550

The Health Club Registration Unit was estab-
lished within the Division of Consumer Protection
in 1986. The Unit is responsible for the registration
of Maryland health clubs and for ensuring that they
are properly bonded (Code Commercial Law Arti-
cle, secs. 14-12B-01 through 14-12B-08).

ARBITRATION UNIT
Gilbert S. Birnbach, Director

576-6550
The Arbitration Unit mediates disputes between
consumers and businesses (Code Commercial
Law Article, sec. 13-404). Both parties must agree
to submit the dispute to arbitration. There is no
charge to either party for this service.

COMPLAINT HANDLING UNIT
Rebecca Bowman, Director

576-6550
Baltimore Consumer Hotline: 528-8662
Hagerstown Consumer Hotline: 791-4780
Salisbury Consumer Hotline: 543-6609

The Complaint Handling Unit gathers and con-
ciliates individual consumer complaints (Code
Commercial Law Article, secs. 13-401, 13-402).
The Unit's Telephone "hotline" provides consumers

Constitutional Offices <& Agencies/165

with prepurchase advice, business complaint histo-
ries, and instructions on how to file a complaint.

CONSUMER COUNCIL
Chairperson: Mark Silbergold, 1994

Appointed by Governor with Senate consent: Edna
D. Butcher, 1990; Hardev Singh Palra, 1990;
Frank A. Porter, 1990; Cheryl A. Hysted, 1992;
Champe C. McCulloch, 1992; Paul A. Riecks,
1992; Jennifer Jenkins Dean, 1994; A. Kimbrough
Sherman, 1994.

Ex officio: William Leibovici, Chief, Division of
Consumer 'Protection

Caroline B. Stellmann, Executive Director

7 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21202 576-6593

Created in 1974 as part of the Division of Con-
sumer Protection, the Consumer Council advises
the Division on general goals, undertakes studies
and reports, and fosters cooperation among federal,
State and local agencies, and private groups (Chap-
ter 609, Acts of 1974).

The Council consists of the Chief of the Division
of Consumer Protection and nine members ap-
pointed by the Governor with Senate consent.
Three members represent consumer groups or in-
terests, three represent business groups or interests,
and three represent the public sector. Members
serve without compensation for six-year terms
(Code Commercial Law Article, sec. 13-202).

CRIMINAL APPEALS DIVISION

Gary E. Bair, Chief
Jillyn K. Schulze, Deputy Chief
Richard B. Rosenblatt, Senior Counsel, Capital
Litigation

7 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21202 576-6410

The Criminal Appeals Division represents the
State in suits involving the criminal justice system.
Advocating the State's position in written briefs and
at oral argument, the Division handles all appeals
in criminal cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, the
Maryland Court of Appeals, and the Maryland
Court of Special Appeals. The Division represents
the State as well in federal court on collateral review
of State criminal convictions. The Division also
advises State's Attorneys and other law enforce-
ment personnel on legal matters.