1806                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                 Ch. 893

CHAPTER 893
(House Bill 897)

AN ACT to add new Section 21H to Article 83 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume and 1972 Supplement), title "Sales and
Notices," subtitle "Consumer Protection," to follow immediately after Section
21G thereof, to make it unlawful for any person, partnership, association,
corporation, or other legal entity in the State to sell or distribute any electrical
consumer product [[or any consumer product with electrical components unless
the product is clearly labeled, marked or stamped with the symbol of
Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. or any other qualified testing laboratory
certifying that the product is reasonably safe to persons and property; to provide
for enforcement and penalties for violations; and relating generally to electrical
consumer products and consumer products with electrical components.]] unless
the product is clearly labeled, marked, or stamped with the symbol of an
electrical testing laboratory which has been certified to do testing to determine
that the products are safe for use by the Fire Marshal of the State of Maryland;
to provide for enforcement and penalties for violations; and relating generally to
electrical consumer products.

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That new Section 21H be and it is hereby added to Article 83 of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume and 1972
Supplement), title "Sales and Notices," subtitle "Consumer Protection," to follow
immediately after Section 21G thereof, and to read as follows:
21H.

(A)     IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, PARTNERSHIP,
ASSOCIATION, CORPORATION, OR OTHER LEGAL ENTITY IN THE
STATE TO SELL OR DISTRIBUTE ANY ELECTRICAL CONSUMER
PRODUCT [[OR ANY CONSUMER PRODUCT WITH ELECTRICAL
COMPONENTS]] WHICH IS INTENDED ULTIMATELY FOR THE
PERSONAL USE [[,CONSUMPTION OR ENJOYMENT]] OF A
CONSUMER IN OR AROUND A PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY
HOUSEHOLD OR RESIDENCE UNLESS THE PRODUCT IS CLEARLY
LABELED, MARKED OR STAMPED WITH THE SYMBOL OF
[[UNDERWRITERS' LABORATORIES, INC. OR ANY OTHER
QUALIFIED TESTING LABORATORY CERTIFYING THAT THE
PRODUCT IS REASONABLY SAFE TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY.]]
AN ELECTRICAL TESTING LABORATORY WHICH HAS BEEN
CERTIFIED TO DO TESTING BY THE FIRE MARSHAL OF THE STATE
OF MARYLAND. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TESTING IS TO DETERMINE
THAT THE PRODUCTS TESTED ARE SAFE FOR USE.

(B)   THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE ENFORCED
JOINTLY BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE STATE FIRE
MARSHAL UNDER ENFORCEMENT POWERS PROVIDED IN THIS
SUBTITLE AND ARTICLE 38A OF THIS CODE. WITH RESPECT TO
BALTIMORE CITY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF BALTIMORE CITY
SHALL REPORT, PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY, TO THE DIVISION
OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IT FINDS.

(C)  ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY VIOLATES
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A
MISDEMEANOR AND SHALL BE FINED NOT [[LESS THAN $500
NOR]] MORE THAN $5,000.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect July 1, 1973.

Approved May 30, 1973.