# Commercial Law (GCL)

## Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions

### Subtitle 28. Products Made by the Blind

#### Section 14-2801

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) "Blind" means that an individual's visual acuity:

  (1) Does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses; or

  (2) Exceeds 20/200 but with a field of vision that at the widest diameter subtends an angle not greater than 20 degrees.

(c)

  (1) "Direct labor hours" includes all hours spent in the manufacture and assembly of a product made by blind individuals.

  (2) "Direct labor hours" does not include time spent in the administration, supervision, shipping, and inspection of a product made by blind individuals.

(d) "Person" includes an individual, corporation, business trust, statutory trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(e) "Product made by the blind" means a product if not less than 75% of the total personnel engaged in the direct labor hours in the manufacture and assembly of the product are blind workers.

#### Section 14-2802

This subtitle does not authorize the identification of products as made by blind individuals if the direct labor performed by blind individuals in connection with the products consists solely of the packaging or packing of the products, and not the manufacture and assembly of the products.

#### Section 14-2803

A person may not sell or offer for sale any product falsely represented to be a product made by the blind.

#### Section 14-2804

(a) This section does not apply to:

  (1) The offer to sell or sale of products known as "blinds"; or

  (2) An individual whose given name is "blind".

(b) A person that has products for sale may not use the word "blind" in the name or title of the person, association, or corporation unless the person limits its sales to products made by the blind.

#### Section 14-2805

(a) This section does not apply to products made and sold by self-employed blind individuals who reside in the State.

(b) Products made by the blind may not be sold without a mark on the products that:

  (1) Identifies the products as made by the blind; and

  (2) Identifies the organization that made the products.

#### Section 14-2806

(a) Each person that is engaged in the State in the business of telephone solicitation or door-to-door sales of products made by the blind shall:

  (1) Register with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland; and

  (2) Obtain a permit for each person selling or soliciting the sale of products made by the blind.

(b) A product made by the blind may not be sold in the State unless the seller holds a valid permit issued under this section.

(c) Unless earlier revoked for good cause shown, a permit issued under this section is valid for 1 year.

(d) The fee for each permit and each renewal of a permit shall be:

  (1) 50 cents for a person that resides or has its main office in the State; and

  (2) $5.00 for a person that does not reside or have its main office in the State.

(e)

  (1) Blind Industries and Services of Maryland shall investigate, under rules and regulations that it adopts for the administration of this subtitle, each application filed under this section to ensure that the applicant actually is engaged in the manufacture or distribution of products made by the blind.

  (2) Blind Industries and Services of Maryland may register, without investigation, nonresident persons and out-of-state associations and corporations on proof that the persons, associations, or corporations are recognized and approved by the state of their residence or organization under a law of that state that imposes requirements substantially similar to those prescribed under this subtitle.

(f) A person that violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or both.

#### Section 14-2807

(a) A person that violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to:

  (1) A fine not exceeding $100 and the costs of prosecution; or

  (2) In default of payment of the amount provided in item (1) of this subsection, imprisonment not exceeding 30 days.

(b) Each sale of, or offer to sell, products in violation of this subtitle is a separate offense.

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Md. Code Ann., Com. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)