2056                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [Ch. 609

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND ALSO FINDS, AS A
RESULT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SOME OF THE METROPOLITAN
COUNTIES DURING THE 1973 INTERIM, THAT IMPROVED
ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES ARE NECESSARY TO HELP ALLEVIATE
THE GROWING PROBLEM OF DECEPTIVE CONSUMER PRACTICES AND
URGES THAT FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO REQUESTS
FOR INCREASED BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR INCREASES IN STAFF
AND OTHER MEASURES TENDING TO IMPROVE THE ENFORCEMENT
CAPABILITIES OR INCREASE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIVISION.

IT IS THE INTENTION OF THIS LEGISLATION TO SET
CERTAIN MINIMUM STATE-HIDE STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION
OF CONSUMERS ACROSS THE STATE AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
STRONGLY URGES THAT LOCAL SUBDIVISIONS, WHICH HAVE
CREATED CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
ENCOURAGE THE FUNCTION OF SUCH AGENCIES AT LEAST TO THE
MINIMUM LEVEL AS SET FORTH IN THE STANDARDS OF THIS ACT.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS CONCERNED THAT THE PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE IN MERCHANTS OFFERING GOODS, SERVICES AND
CREDIT IS BEING UNDERMINED, ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF
BUSINESS PEOPLE OPERATE WITH INTEGRITY AND SINCERE REGARD
FOR THE CONSUMER.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES, THEREFORE, THAT IT
SHOULD TAKE STRONG STEPS, BOTH PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE,
TO INVESTIGATE UNLAWFUL CONSUMER PRACTICES, TO ASSIST THE
PUBLIC IN OBTAINING RELIEF FROM SUCH PRACTICES AND TO
PREVENT SUCH PRACTICES FROM OCCURRING IN MARYLAND. IT IS
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SUBHEADING TO ACCOMPLISH THESE ENDS
AND THEREBY MAINTAIN THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE
CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section
20 of Article 83 — Sales and Notices, of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume and 1973
Supplement) be and it is hereby repealed and re—enacted,
with amendments, to read as follows:

Article 83 — Sales and Notices
20. AS USED IN THIS SUBHEADING:

(a) The term "advertisement" means the
publication, dissemination, or circulation of any matter,
oral or written, including labeling, which tends to
induce directly or indirectly, any person to enter into
any obligation, sign any contract, or acquire any title
or interest in any merchandise or service and includes
every word device to disguise any form of business
solicitation by using such terms as "renewal," "invoice,11
"bill," "statement," or "reminder," to create an
impression of existing obligation when there is none, or