reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-602 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-602 - Use of Services of Unregistered Individual

    A professional solicitor may not employ, pay, agree to pay, or otherwise use the services of a person to make a charitable solicitation unless the person:         (1)    is registered with the Secretary of State as an associate solicitor; or        (2)    becomes registered with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the person starts acting as an associate solicitor.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-603 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-603 - Agreement With Unregistered Charitable Organization

    (a)    A professional solicitor or fund-raising counsel may not make an agreement with a charitable organization unless the charitable organization has applied to register with the Secretary of State or is otherwise exempt.    (b)    A charitable organization may not make an agreement with a professional solicitor or fund-raising counsel unless the professional solicitor or fund-raising counsel has applied to register with the Secretary of State or is otherwise exempt.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-604 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-604 - Misuse of Registration

    (a)    A charitable representative or a charitable organization may not lead the public to believe that registration is an endorsement or approval by the State.    (b)    Use of the following statement is allowed: “Registered with the Secretary of State of Maryland as required by law. Registration is not an endorsement of a public solicitation for contributions”.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-605 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-605 - Compensation Dependent on Number or Value of Charitable Contributions

    A fund-raising counsel may not receive compensation from a charitable organization if the compensation depends wholly or partly on the number or value of charitable contributions that result from the effort of the fund-raising counsel.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-606 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-606 - Application of Charitable Contribution

    A person may not apply a charitable contribution in a way substantially inconsistent with the charitable solicitation.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-607 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-607 - False or Misleading Material

    A person may not use false or materially misleading advertising or promotional material in connection with a charitable solicitation.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-608 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-608 - Deceptive Act

    (a)    In connection with a charitable solicitation, a charitable organization or charitable representative may not commit an act or engage in a practice that by affirmative representation or by omission is misleading about anything important to, or likely to affect, another person’s decision to make a charitable contribution.    (b)    An act or practice prohibited by this section is a violation of this section, whether or not a person has been misled, deceived, or damaged.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-609 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-609 - Misrepresentation -- Marks or Printed Matter

    (a)    Unless authorized by a charitable organization, a person may not:        (1)    represent that a charitable contribution is requested for the charitable organization; or        (2)    use a name, symbol, emblem, device, service mark or printed matter that belongs to or is associated with the charitable organization to solicit charitable contributions.    (b)    In soliciting charitable contributions for a charitable organization, a person may not use a name, symbol, emblem, device, service mark, or printed matter so similar to that of another established charitable organization that the use might confuse or mislead the public.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-610 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-610 - Misrepresentation -- Charitable Organizations or Use of Proceeds

    A person may not falsely represent that:         (1)    the person on whose behalf a solicitation or sale is made is a charitable organization; or        (2)    the proceeds of a solicitation or sale will be used for a charitable purpose.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-611 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-611 - Misrepresentation -- Sponsorship or Endorsement

    (a)    A person may not represent that another person sponsors, endorses, or approves of a charitable solicitation, the sale of goods or services for a charitable purpose, a charitable purpose, or a charitable organization without the consent of the other person.    (b)    A member of the board of directors or trustee of a charitable organization or a person who volunteers to participate in a charitable solicitation is deemed to have consented to the use of the person’s name in the charitable solicitation.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-612 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-612 - Soliciting After Cancellation of Contract

    A person may not continue to solicit charitable contributions for a charitable organization after the contract between the person and the charitable organization is canceled.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-613 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-613 - Willful Violations

    (a)    A charitable organization or a charitable representative may not willfully:        (1)    fail to submit to the Secretary of State when required a registration statement, annual report, or other information; or        (2)    submit to the Secretary of State a registration statement, report, or other information that is materially false.    (b)    A director, officer, partner, or trustee of a charitable organization or charitable representative may not cause the charitable organization or charitable representative to violate this title willfully.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-614 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-614 - Grossly Negligent Violations

    (a)    A charitable organization or a charitable representative may not in a grossly negligent way:        (1)    fail to submit to the Secretary of State when required a registration statement, annual report, or other information; or        (2)    submit to the Secretary of State a registration statement, report, or other information that is materially false.    (b)    A director, officer, partner, or trustee of a charitable organization or charitable representative may not cause the charitable organization or charitable representative to violate this title in a grossly negligent way.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-615 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-615 - Contents of Agreement -- Between Charitable Organization and Fund-Raising Counsel

    A person may not act as a fund-raising counsel unless the person’s agreement with the charitable organization states:         (1)    the names and addresses of the parties;        (2)    the services to be provided;        (3)    the number of persons to be involved in providing the services;        (4)    the time when the services are to be provided; and        (5)    the method and formula for compensation.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-616 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-616 - Contents of Agreement -- Between Charitable Organizations and Professional Solicitors

    A person may not act as a professional solicitor unless the person’s agreement with the charitable organization states:         (1)    the names and addresses of the parties;        (2)    the minimum percentage of the gross receipts from charitable solicitations that will be used by the charitable organization exclusively to advance its charitable purposes;        (3)    the text that the professional solicitor or associate solicitor will use in each charitable solicitation; and        (4)    any other information that the Secretary of State requires by regulation.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-617 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-617 - Charitable Solicitation Without Authorization

    A professional solicitor or associate solicitor may not solicit charitable contributions for or in the name of a charitable organization unless the professional solicitor or associate solicitor:         (1)    has written authorization that contains:            (i)    the consent of 2 officers of the charitable organization;            (ii)    the signature of the professional solicitor; and            (iii)    an express statement of the term of the authorization;        (2)    submits a copy of the authorization to the Secretary of State; and        (3)    on request, shows a copy of the authorization and personal identification to a person who is solicited.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-618 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-618 - Promotions for Charitable Organizations

    (a)    This section does not apply to a raffle or other game of chance that a charitable organization holds in a county under the laws applicable to the county.    (b)    As part of an advertising plan in connection with a charitable solicitation, a person may not notify another person that the other person has won a prize, has received an award, or has been chosen or is eligible to receive a thing of value if the other person is required to:        (1)    buy goods or services;        (2)    pay money; or        (3)    submit to a promotion.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-619 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-619 - Criminal Penalty

    (a)    A person who commits a willful violation of this title or who causes a person to commit a willful violation of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.    (b)    A person who commits a grossly negligent violation of this title or who causes a person to commit a grossly negligent violation of this title is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or liability for restitution that the court determines or both.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-620 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-620 - Public Containers for Deposit of Money Reflecting Name of Charitable Organization

    A person who places in an establishment or other location open to the public a vending machine, canister, or other device or container for the deposit of money that reflects the name of a charitable organization or a charitable purpose shall:         (1)    state on the device or container:            (i)    the address of the charitable organization named; and            (ii)    the name and address of the business placing the device or container, if not the charitable organization; and        (2)    state on the device or container and to the person who grants permission for the placement of the device or container that a portion of the money deposited is retained by the business placing the device or container and that the remainder is given to a charitable organization or used for charitable purposes, if less than all of the money deposited is given to a charitable organization or used for charitable purposes.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-621 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-621 - Liability for Broadcast, Publication, or Printing of Solicitations in Violation of Title

    A television or radio broadcasting station or a publisher or printer of a newspaper, magazine, Web site, or other form of advertising that broadcasts, publishes, or prints a charitable solicitation that violates this title is not liable for the violation, unless the station, publisher, or printer has knowledge that the charitable solicitation violates this title.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-622 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 6 - Prohibited Acts; Penalties|Section 6-622 - Retaliatory Actions Prohibited

    A person may not knowingly, with the intent to retaliate, take any action harmful to any individual, including interference with the lawful employment or livelihood of the individual, because the individual provided to a law enforcement officer, the Secretary of State, or the Attorney General any truthful information relating to the commission or possible commission of any federal or State offense.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  6-701 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 6 - Charitable Organizations and Charitable Representatives|Subtitle 7 - Short Title|Section 6-701 - Short Title

    This title is the Maryland Solicitations Act.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-102 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 7-102 - Scope of Title

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.        (2)    “Common ownership” means direct or indirect ownership of more than 50% of a person.        (3)    “Principal business” means a business activity of a person that comprises more than 50% of the total business activities of the person.    (b)    This title does not apply to:        (1)    a bank;        (2)    a federal or State credit union;        (3)    a mortgage lender;        (4)    a person acting under an order of a court of competent jurisdiction;        (5)    a licensed real estate broker, or an individual acting on behalf of the real estate broker, in the collection of rent or allied charges for property;        (6)    a savings and loan association;        (7)    a title company as to its escrow business;        (8)    a trust company;        (9)    a lawyer who is collecting a debt for a client, unless the lawyer has an employee who:            (i)    is not a lawyer; and            (ii)    is engaged primarily to solicit debts for collection or primarily makes contact with a debtor to collect or adjust a debt through a procedure identified with the operation of a collection agency; or        (10)    a person who is collecting a debt for another person if:            (i)    both persons are related by common ownership;            (ii)    the person who is collecting a debt does so only for those persons to whom it is related by common ownership;            (iii)    the principal business of the person who is collecting a debt is not the collection of debts; and            (iv)    before collecting a debt, the person files with the Board:                1.    the correct name of the person;                2.    an address and telephone number of a contact person; and                3.    the name of the person’s resident agent.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-103 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 7-103 - Effect on Other Laws

    (a)    This title does not prohibit the State Division of Consumer Protection or a local consumer protection unit from enforcing the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act or local law.    (b)    A local or State unit may not bring an action against a licensed collection agency for a specific violation or complaint for which an action against the licensed collection agency has been brought by:        (1)    the Board under this title; or        (2)    the State Division of Consumer Protection or a local consumer protection unit under the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act or under local law.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-104 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions|Section 7-104 - Local License Prohibited

    Only the State may require a person to hold a license or to pay a fee to do business as a collection agency.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-201 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 2 - State Collection Agency Licensing Board|Section 7-201 - Established

    There is a State Collection Agency Licensing Board in the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation in the Department.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-202 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 2 - State Collection Agency Licensing Board|Section 7-202 - Membership

    (a)    (1)    The Board consists of the following 5 members:            (i)    as an ex officio member, the Commissioner; and            (ii)    4 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.        (2)    Of the 4 appointed members:            (i)    2 shall represent collection agencies; and            (ii)    2 shall be consumer members.    (b)    (1)    Each consumer member of the Board:            (i)    shall be a member of the general public; and            (ii)    shall be:                1.    an officer or member of the board of a recognized consumer group in the State; or                2.    an employee of a local consumer protection unit in the State.        (2)    A consumer member of the Board may not:            (i)    be a licensee or otherwise be subject to regulation by the Board; or            (ii)    within 1 year before appointment, have had a financial interest in or have received compensation from a person regulated by the Board.    (c)    While a member of the Board, a consumer member may not have a financial interest in or receive compensation from a person regulated by the Board.    (d)    Before taking office, each appointee to the Board shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution.    (e)    (1)    The term of an appointed member is 4 years and begins on July 1.        (2)    At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.        (3)    A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.    (f)    (1)    The Governor may remove an appointed member for incompetence or misconduct.        (2)    Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, a member shall be considered to have resigned who has been appointed to the Board by the Governor if the member did not attend at least two–thirds of the Board meetings held during any consecutive 12–month period while the member was serving on the Board.        (3)    The Governor may waive a member’s resignation and allow the member to continue serving if the member has been unable to attend meetings for reasons satisfactory to the Governor and the reasons are made public.        (4)    In accordance with § 8–501 of the State Government Article, the chairman shall provide notice to the Governor and the Governor shall appoint a successor.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-203 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 2 - State Collection Agency Licensing Board|Section 7-203 - Chairman

    The Commissioner is chairman of the Board.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-204 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 2 - State Collection Agency Licensing Board|Section 7-204 - Meetings; Expenses; Staff

    (a)    The Board shall set the times and places of its meetings.    (b)    Each member of the Board is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.    (c)    The Board may employ a staff in accordance with the State budget.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-205 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 2 - State Collection Agency Licensing Board|Section 7-205 - Enforcement Powers; Penalties

    (a)    To carry out this title, the Board may, subject to § 7-103(b) of this title:        (1)    receive a written complaint and hold a hearing on an alleged violation by a collection agency of the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act or this title;        (2)    mediate a dispute between a consumer and a collection agency and suggest monetary compensation of the consumer in an amount agreeable to the consumer and collection agency or other appropriate resolution or both; and        (3)    issue orders:            (i)    to cease and desist from the violation and any further similar violations; or            (ii)    requiring the violator to take affirmative action to correct the violation.    (b)    If a violator fails to comply with a lawful order issued by the Board, the Board may impose a penalty not exceeding $10,000 for each violation cited in the order, not to exceed $25,000, from which the violator failed to cease and desist or for which the violator failed to take affirmative action to correct, as ordered by the Board.    (c)    In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed under subsection (b) of this section, the Board shall consider:        (1)    the seriousness of the violation;        (2)    the good faith of the violator;        (3)    the violator’s history of previous violations;        (4)    the deleterious effect of the violation on the public and the collection industry; and        (5)    any other factors relevant to the determination of the financial penalty.
MD. Business Regulation Code Ann. §  7-206 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Business Regulation|Title 7 - Collection Agencies|Subtitle 2 - State Collection Agency Licensing Board|Section 7-206 - Disposition of Money

    The Board shall pay all money collected under this title into the general fund of the State.