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<section article="gfi" article_name="Financial Institutions" number="12-922" title_number="12" title_name="Miscellaneous Institutions and Activities" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Maryland Debt Management Services Act">
  <level label="a">
    <text>To enable the Commissioner to determine compliance with this subtitle, a licensee shall make and preserve the following books, accounts, and records for a period of at least 7 years:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A general ledger containing all assets, liability, capital, income, and expense accounts;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Each debt management services agreement between the licensee and a consumer;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Books and records for each consumer with whom the licensee has a debt management services agreement;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Bank statements and bank reconciliation records;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A copy of each written summary required under § 12–916(a)(1)(i)2 of this subtitle; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>A copy of each signed acknowledgment required under § 12–916(a)(1)(i)3 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A licensee may retain the books, accounts, and records required under this section at any location, provided that the licensee:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Notifies the Commissioner in writing of the location of the books, accounts, and records; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Makes the books, accounts, and records available at a location in the State, as agreed by the Commissioner and the licensee, within 7 days after a written request for examination by the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A licensee shall retain the books, accounts, and records required under this section in:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Original form; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Photographic, electronic, or other similar form approved by the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If the Commissioner finds that the books, accounts, and records of the licensee are insufficient to determine compliance with this subtitle, the Commissioner may require the licensee to have a certified public accountant audit the licensee, at the licensee’s expense, for any period of time that the Commissioner considers necessary.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A licensee shall keep all books, accounts, and records relating to a consumer confidential, and may not disclose any information about a consumer except to a duly authorized government official, the consumer, or the consumer’s representative.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A duly authorized government official may disclose information obtained under paragraph (1) of this subsection only in accordance with Title 4 of the General Provisions Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The requirements of this section also apply to books, accounts, and records in the possession of a subsidiary, affiliate, or other person that relate to the operation of and services provided by the licensee’s debt management services business.</text>
  </level>
</section>
