MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

517

of §13—301, which defines "unfair or deceptive
trade practice." Because of the length of
those provisions, and for purposes of
emphasis, they are set out separately rather
than incorporated into this section.

13-102. DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(A)   FINDINGS.

(1)    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND FINDS
THAT CONSUMER PROTECTION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WHICH
CONFRONT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND THAT THERE HAS
BEEN MOUNTING CONCERN OVER THE INCREASE OF DECEPTIVE
PRACTICES IN CONNECTION WITH SALES OF MERCHANDISE AND
SERVICES AND THE EXTENSION OF CREDIT.

(2)    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZES THAT
THERE ARE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS WHICH OFFER PROTECTION
IN THESE AREAS, ESPECIALLY INSOFAR AS CONSUMER CREDIT
PRACTICES ARE CONCERNED, BUT IT FINDS THAT EXISTING LAWS
ARE INADEQUATE, POORLY COORDINATED AND NOT WIDELY KNOWN
OR ADEQUATELY ENFORCED.

(3)   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,

(B)   PURPOSE.

(1)   IT IS THE INTENTION OF THIS LEGISLATION
TO SET CERTAIN MINIMUM STATEWIDE 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 THESE AGENCIES AT LEAST
TO THE MINIMUM LEVEL SET FORTH IN THE STANDARDS OF THIS
TITLE.

(2)   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS CONCERNED THAT
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.

(3)      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES,
THEREFORE, THAT IT SHOULD TAKE STRONG PROTECTIVE AND