General Assembly Watch List & Testimony

2011 MCRC General Assembly Watch List & Testimony

MCRC's 2011 legislative agenda worked to protect Maryland consumers by fighting for bills that advance three important goals: protecting the finances and employment opportunities of Maryland residents; saving our homes and promoting smart energy choices and providing enforcement mechanisms that ensure consumers' rights are respected in the marketplace. Here's a look at the bills we worked on, the testimony we offered and how the bills fared in the 2011 session.

Bill Number	Description	MCRC Position	Status
SB741/ HB 1022	Debt Settlement – better regulate the industry, license settlement firms, cap the fees they can charge consumers.	Support, as amended SB 741 testimony HB 1022 testimony	Passed amended bill that does not include fee caps.
SB 132/ HB 87	Prohibiting the use of credit records in most hiring decisions.	Support SB 132 testimony HB 87 testimony	Passed.
SB 394	Let MAIF drivers pay car insurance premiums in installments. .	Support SB 394 testimony	No action in House. Did not pass.
HB 482 HB 1134	Protecting the privacy of credit card information and other data on receipts. Requiring moving companies to provide binding cost estimates.	Support HB 482 testimony Support HB 1134 testimony	Passed. Passed.
SB 236/ HB 362 HB 728	Giving homeowners more protection and more information about contractors for home improvement projects. Strengthening notification rules for homeowners facing foreclosure and strengthening right to choose mediation.	Support SB 236 testimony HB 362 testimony Support HB 728 testimony	Passed. Legislation mandates study of requiring performance bonds for contractors. Passed.
HB 99	Enables Consumer Protection Division to enforce the rules of homeowners' associations.	Support HB 99 testimony	Approved by House, Unfavorable report by Sen. Judicial Proceedings Cmte. Did not pass.
HB 100	Collect condo fees in ways that would help prevent foreclosures.	Support HB 100 testimony	Unfavorable report in House Econ. Matters Committee. No Senate action. Did not pass.
HB 1080	Preventing automatic renewal of electricity contracts, improving information disclosure.	Support HB 1080 testimony	Unfavorable report in House Economic Matters Committee. Withdrawn.
HB 1323	Allowing mortgage brokers to take new finder's fees.	Oppose	Bill withdrawn
SB 309/ HB 442	Requires firms to disclose their records in mandatory arbitration cases.	Support SB 309 testimony HB 442 testimony	Passed.
SB 75/ HB 128 SB 597	Extend Consumer Protection Act to cover transactions in which merchants buy commodities like gold, cars from consumers. Requires automakers to make same incentives available to dealers in Maryland as other states.	Support SB 75 testimony HB 128 testimony Support SB 597 testimony	Passed. Unfavorable report in Judicial Proceedings Committee. No action in House. Did not pass
SB 48	Prohibits use of salvaged airbags in other automobiles.	Support	First reading, Finance and Judicial Proceedings Cmtes. No action in House. Did not pass.

MCRCGeneral Assembly Watch List & Testimony 2010

Keeping our eyes on legislation that affects Maryland consumers

Bill Number	Description	MCRC Position	Status
HB 392 SB 701	Debt Settlement – would regulate the debt settlement industry; requiring the majority of fees be paid after debt is settled and inclusion of clear disclosures to consumers.	Support HB 392 testimony SB 701 testimony	Referred to interim study
HB 79 SB 678	Payday lenders – would maintain Maryland’s current 33% rate on loans and clarify that the 33% cap includes all fees. This will slow predatory loans.	Support HB 79 testimony SB 678 testimony	Passed Senate-47-0 House 106-29
HB 1206 SB 762	Refund Anticipation Loans – would provide clear disclosures for consumers who might be interested in a RAL.	Support SB 762 testimony	Passed Senate 47-0 House 139-0
HB 472 SB 276	Foreclosure – requires third-party mediation between homeowners and lenders.	Support SB 276 testimony	Passed House 115-25, Senate Hearing 4/6 at 1:00 in JPR
HB 175 SB 312	Credit and Jobs – would eliminate practice of using credit history in hiring for positions that are not related to credit-worthiness.	Support HB 175 testimony SB 312 testimony	Unfavorable report in Economic Matters and Senate Finance
HB 1018 SB 1008	Cell Phone bill of rights – would create a trial period for cell users during which service can be canceled or changed without fees or penalties.	Support	Unfavorable report Economic Matters
HB 1150	Consumer Protection Act – would allow for greater damages for violations of Maryland’s CPA.	Support HB 1150 testimony	No action in Economic Matters
HB 317 SB 401	MAIF – would allow the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund to accept installment payments.	Support	No action in Economic Matters or Senate Finance
HB 483 SB 309	Uniform Power of Attorney	Support HB 483 testimony	SB309 passed
HB 379	Transparency in Arbitration	Support HB 379 testimony	Passed House 115-25, Senate Finance hearing 4/6 at 1:00
HB 522	Comprehensive Energy Plan – would create long-term energy plan involving business, environmental groups and consumer groups to explore ways to meet the state’s energy needs.	Support with amendment. MCRC supports with the addition of the phrase consideration of “lowest reasonable cost to consumers” as part of the Public Service Commission process.	Seeking executive order
HB 144	Close the People's Insurance Counsel Division – transfer responsibilities to the Maryland Insurance Administration on July 1, 2010.	Oppose HB 144 testimony	Unfavorable report in Economic Matters
SB 83	Civil Litigation Funding – allows Department of Housing and Community Development to modify specified loan terms if a Program loan is at risk of being in default.		Passed Senate 43-0, House hearing 4/1
SB 863	Requiring all payments or portions of payments made on a specified consumer loan during a grace period to be credited to principal and interest due on the scheduled payment; prohibiting a late or delinquency charge from being charged on a specified consumer loan unless a scheduled payment is not paid in full during the grace period; altering the contents of a notice of intent to foreclose on residential property; etc.	Support SB 863 testimony	No action in committee
HB 1255 SB 971	Alternative Payments - requiring utility companies to offer payment plans for those in arrears.	Support SB 971 testimony	Senate hearing 3/17
HB 1327	Puts onus on homeowner to hire only licensed contractors.	Oppose	Unfavorable report by Economic Matters
HB 1325 SB 1099	Requiring preference for State financial institution when evaluating competing bids by financial institutions	Support	No action in committee
SB 744	Vehicle prior use disclosure	Oppose	No action in Senate Finance
HB 1199 SB 907	Salvaged vehicles requirements	Oppose SB 907 testimony	Passed House 119-21