(a) Creation and composition; appointment of members; chair. There is an Advisory Committee on Consumer Protection, which consists of 9 persons appointed by the County Executive, subject to confirmation by the County Council. The membership must reflect a cross-section of consumer and business interests. At least 2 members must be members of the Better Business Bureau or of another County-wide association of merchants. At least 1 member must be a member of the Community Action Board, and a second member must be recommended by the Community Action Board. If, after written notice to these groups, no application is received from a member of these groups, and no recommendation is received from one of these groups, the Executive may appoint a person from the public-at-large. Each member serves a 3 year term. A member appointed to fill a vacancy serves the rest of the unexpired term. Each member continues in office until a successor is appointed and confirmed. The Committee must elect one member as chair and another member as vice chair, each to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the Committee, and such other officers as it determines.
(b) Compensation. Members of the Committee receive no compensation for their services.
(c) Meetings; services; reports. The Committee must meet when required by the chair, but no less than once each month. The Committee must submit an annual report to the Executive and Council.
(d) Powers and duties. The Committee must advise the Office in carrying out its duties and functions under this Chapter, and may hold public hearings on any topic related to Consumer Protection.(1972 L.M.C., ch. 11, § 1; 1977 L.M.C., ch. 28, § 5; 1978 L.M.C., ch.19, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 1996 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 2005 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1; 2006 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 1.)
Editor's note—The above section is discussed in Fosler v. Panoramic Design, Ltd., 376 Md. 118, 829 A.2d 271 (2003).
2005 L.M.C., ch. 26, §§ 2 and 3, state:
Sec. 2. Regulations. A regulation which implements a function transferred to the Office of Consumer Protection by this Act continues in effect until otherwise amended or repealed, but any reference to any predecessor department or office must be treated as referring to the Office of Consumer Protection.
Sec. 3. Transition. This act does not invalidate or affect any action taken by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs before this Act took effect. Any responsibility or right granted by law, regulation, contract, or other document, and which is associated with a function transferred by this Act from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, is transferred to the Office of Consumer Protection.
Cross reference-Boards and commissions generally, § 2-141 et seq.