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<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="6-406" title_number="6" title_name="Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Charitable Organizations">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Unless exempted from registration under § 6-413 of this subtitle, a person may not solicit the public as a charitable organization prior to registration.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County or other court of competent jurisdiction may restrain or enjoin a person from soliciting in violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary of State has the burden of proof in any court proceeding:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>to restrain or enjoin a charitable organization from soliciting the public; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>based on an appeal by a charitable organization of a final decision of the Secretary of State under § 6-404(c) of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A charitable organization claiming to be exempt from the requirements of this title has the burden of production of evidence on that issue.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County or other court of competent jurisdiction may order a charitable organization to stop soliciting the public if the charitable organization:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>is required to be registered but has not applied to be registered; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>has otherwise violated the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
