2053                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [Ch. 609

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new
Sections 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F, 20G, 20H, 201, 20J
and 21 be and they are hereby added to Article 83 - Sales
and Notices, of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969
Replacement Volume and 1973 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 83 — Sales and Notices
20A.

THIS SUBHEADING SHALL BE LIBERALLY CONSTRUED AND
APPLIED TO PROMOTE ITS PURPOSE AND POLICIES. IT IS THE
INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT IN CONSTRUING
UNLAWFUL AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AS DEFINED IN THIS
SUBHEADING DUE CONSIDERATION AND WEIGHT SHALL BE GIVEN TO
THE INTERPRETATION OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND
THE FEDERAL COURTS RELATIVE TO SECTION 5(A)(1) OF THE
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ACT, 15 U.S.C. 45(A) (1), AS IT
MAY FROM TIMS TO TIME BE AMENDED.

20B.

A CONSUMER COUNCIL IS CREATED AS A PART OF THE
DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION [[WHICH SHALL]] TO ADVISE
THE DIVISION ON GENERAL GOALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
PROGRAMS, UNDERTAKES STUDIES AND REPORTS, AND FOSTER
COOPERATION AMONG FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AND
PRIVATE GROUPS. THE COUNCIL [[SHALL CONSIST]] CONSISTS
OF THE DIVISION CHIEF AND NINE MEMBERS [[FROM THE PUBLIC
SECTOR]] APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE CONSENT OF
THE SENATE. THREE MEMBERS REPRESENT CONSUMER GROUPS OR
INTERESTS, THREE REPRESENT BUSINESS GROUPS OR INTERESTS,
AND THREE REPRESENT THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN STAGGERED TERMS
WITHIN EACH GROUP. OF THE NINE MEMBERS, THREE SHALL BE
APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS, THREE SHALL BE
APPOINTED FOR TERMS OF FOUR YEARS, AND THREE SHALL BE
APPOINTED FOR TERMS OF SIX YEARS. AS THE INITIAL TERMS
OF OFFICE EXPIRE, THE SUCCESSOR MEMBERS SHALL BE
APPOINTED FOR TERMS OF SIX YEARS. THEY SHALL SERVE
WITHOUT COMPENSATION, BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL
EXPENSES REASONABLY INCURRED. THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
SHALL [[ANNUALLY]] ELECT ANNUALLY A CHAIRMAN FROM AMONG
ITS MEMBERS AND SHALL APPOINT A SECRETARY.

20C.

THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION HAS THE
FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES TO:

(1) [[TO]] RECEIVE AND INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS FROM
ALL PERSONS AFFECTED BY POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL VIOLATION OF
THIS SUBHEADING OR TO INITIATE ITS OWN INVESTIGATION OF
FRAUDS AND UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AGAINST THESE
PERSONS;