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<section article="gcl" article_name="Commercial Law" number="13-204" title_number="13" title_name="Consumer Protection Act" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Division of Consumer Protection; Consumer Council">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In addition to any other of its powers and duties, the Division has the powers and duties to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Receive and investigate complaints from any person affected by any potential or actual violation of this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Initiate its own investigation of any unfair or deceptive trade practice;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In accordance with § 13–402 of this title, conciliate all matters covered by this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>In accordance with § 13–403 of this title, issue a cease and desist order with respect to any practice found by the Division to be an unfair or deceptive trade practice;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>In cooperation with the Maryland Department of Labor, suspend or revoke the license of any merchant who refuses to cease and desist from engaging in an unfair or deceptive trade practice;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Report to the appropriate law enforcement officer any information concerning violations of any consumer protection law;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Assist, advise, and cooperate with local and federal agencies and officials to protect and promote the interests of consumers in the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Assist, develop, and conduct programs of consumer education and information through publications and other materials prepared for distribution to consumers;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Undertake activities to encourage business and industry to maintain high standards of honesty, fair business practices, and public responsibility in the production, promotion, and sale or lease or rental of consumer goods, consumer realty, and consumer services and in the extension of consumer credit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>Assess against any violator of this title the costs of investigation by the Division and damages which flow from the improper, incomplete or untimely restitution by the violator to the consumer of money, property, or other thing received from the consumer in connection with a violation of this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>Exercise and perform any other function, power, and duty appropriate to protect and promote the welfare of consumers;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="12">
      <text>In accordance with § 13–205 of this subtitle, adopt rules, regulations, and standards which:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Are necessary to assure the orderly operation of the Division; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Further define unfair or deceptive trade practices for purposes of this title;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="13">
      <text>Enter into reciprocal agreements with consumer protection agencies of other states, in which each state mutually agrees to receive and investigate complaints from the foreign state’s consumer protection agency on behalf of their consumers against businesses in the receiving and investigating state;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="14">
      <text>Maintain a list of nonprofit organizations that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Solely offer counseling or advice to homeowners in foreclosure or loan default; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Are not directly or indirectly related to and do not contract for services with for–profit lenders or foreclosure purchasers, as defined in § 7–301 of the Real Property Article;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="15">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Bring a civil action for damages or an action under this title against a person who violates § 8–801 of the Criminal Law Article on behalf of a victim of the offense or, if the victim is deceased, the victim’s estate;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Recover damages under this item for property loss or damage; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>If the Division prevails in an action brought under this item, recover the costs of the action for the use of the Office of the Attorney General; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="16">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Bring a civil action for damages or an action under this title on behalf of a susceptible adult or older adult who is authorized to bring a cause of action under § 13–603 of the Estates and Trusts Article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the Division prevails in an action brought under this item, recover the costs of the action for the use of the Office of the Attorney General.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A conviction for an offense under § 8–801 of the Criminal Law Article is not a prerequisite for maintenance of an action under subsection (a)(15) of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
