ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                           H.B. 457

House Bill No. 455

AN ACT concerning

Consumer Protection - Late Fee Requirements in Consumer Contracts -
Repeal of Sunset Repeal of Sunset

FOR the purpose of repealing a certain provision that, as of a certain date, would have
repealed certain provisions relating to the inclusion in a consumer contract of a
requirement to pay certain late fees; prohibiting a certain consumer report from
including certain information relating to a late fee if the late fee is paid within a
certain amount of time after payment is due under the terms of the contract;
and generally relating to late fees included in consumer contracts.

BY repealing

Chapter 59 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2000
Section 4 and 9

BY adding to

Article Commercial Law

Section 14-1315(h)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(2000 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Chapter 59 of the Acts of 2000

[SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section(s) 14-1315 of
Article - Commercial Law of the Annotated Code of Maryland be repealed.]

[SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 4 of this Act
shall take effect October 1, 2005.]

Article Commercial Law

14-1315.

(II) A CONSUMER REPORT, AS DEFINED IN § 14-1201 OF THIS TITLE, MAY NOT
INCLUDE INFORMATION RELATING TO A LATE FEE IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION IF
THE LATE FEE IS PAID WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER PAYMENT IS DUE UNDER THE TERMS
OF THE CONTRACT.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2004.

May 26, 2004

The Honorable Michael E. Busch
Speaker of the House

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