2064                                                 LAWS OF MARYLAND                          [Ch. 609

INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DIVISION.

(B)    UPON THE FILING OF A COMPLAINT, THE DIVISION
SHALL MAKE AN INVESTIGATION AS HE DEEMS APPROPRIATE TO
ASCERTAIN FACTS AND ISSUES. IN MAKING THESE
INVESTIGATIONS AND DETERMINATIONS HE MAY USE THE
AUTHORITY GRANTED TO THE DEPARTMENT IN SECTION 20C OF
THIS SUBHEADING. [[WHENEVER IN ITS OPINION]] IF
APPROPRIATE, THE DIVISION SHALL REFER A COMPLAINT TO THE
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. IF THE DIVISION DETERMINES
THAT THERE ARE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE A VIOLATION
HAS OCCURRED, IT SHALL ATTEMPT TO CONCILIATE THE MATTER
BY METHODS OF INITIAL CONFERENCE AND PERSUASION WITH ALL
INTERESTED PARTIES AND [[SUCH REPRESENTATIVES AS THE
PARTIES MAY CHOOSE]] THEIR REPRESENTATIVES CHOSEN TO
ASSIST THEM.

(C)    THE TERMS OF CONCILIATION AGREED TO BY THE
PARTIES MAY BE REDUCED TO WRITING AND INCORPORATED INTO A
WRITTEN ASSURANCE OF DISCONTINUANCE OR SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED BY THE PARTIES, WHICH WRITTEN
ASSURANCE OR AGREEMENT IS FOR CONCILIATION PURPOSES ONLY
AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ADMISSION BY ANY PARTY THAT
THE LAW HAS BEEN VIOLATED. A WRITTEN ASSURANCE OF
DISCONTINUANCE OR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT SHALL BE SIGNED ON
BEHALF OF THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION.

(D)    IT IS A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBHEADING TO
VIOLATE OR FAIL TO ADHERE TO ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN A
WRITTEN ASSURANCE OR AGREEMENT OF DISCONTINUANCE OR
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. ANY FAILURE BY THE DIVISION TO
ENFORCE A VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF A WRITTEN
ASSURANCE [[SHALL]] DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF ANY
RIGHT OF THE DIVISION OR PROVISION OF THE AGREEMENT.

(E)    THE DIVISION IS AUTHORIZED TO SEEK THE
COOPERATION OF THE LICENSING AUTHORITIES AND CONTRACTING
DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY
INVESTIGATION UNDER THIS SECTION BY THE DIVISION OF ANY
PERSON LICENSED TO DO BUSINESS WITHIN THE STATE OR HAVING
A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE.

(F)    IF THE DIVISION DETERMINES THAT THE COMPLAINT
LACKS REASONABLE GROUNDS UPON WHICH TO BASE A VIOLATION
OF THIS SUBHEADING, IT MAY DISMISS THE COMPLAINT OR ORDER

[[SUCH]] FURTHER INVESTIGATION [[AS MAY BE]] IT DEEMS

NECESSARY.

(G)    NOTHING [[HEREIN SHALL PREVENT ANY PERSON]] IN
THIS SECTION PREVENTS ANY CONSUMER FROM EXERCISING ANY
RIGHT OR SEEKING ANY REMEDY TO WHICH HE MIGHT OTHERWISE
BE ENTITLED OR FROM FILING ANY COMPLAINT WITH ANY OTHER
AGENCY, OR COURT OF LAW OR EQUITY.