Legislation
State: Maryland
Signed: May 08, 2023
Effective: October 01, 2023
Chapter: 566
Summary
House Bill 630 authorizes qualified third party to make a report, which must be notarized, concerning a victim of abuse for the purpose of terminating a contract with a utility and all future liability under a utility contract.
Affects
Amends Section 5-502 of the Annotated Code of Maryland Public Utilities Article.
Changes
- Authorizes a qualified third party to make a report concerning a victim of abuse for the purpose of terminating a contract with a utility and all future liability under a utility contract.
- Requires the report of the qualified third party to be acknowledged under penalty of perjury before a Notary Public.
AnalysisHouse Bill 630 is a consumer protection measure. According to the bill's fiscal analysis statement, state data indicates about 30,000 to 35,000 domestic violence incidents were reported each year from 2015 through 2020. "Utility" means an electric company, an electricity supplier, a gas company, a gas supplier, a sewage disposal company, a water company, or any combination of these companies. The written attestation required for release from a contract under the bill must include specified information documenting the domestic violence and come from a qualified thired party such as a a licensed physician or psychologist, a social worker or caseworker of any public or private health or social services agency or provider, or an advocate from a domestic violence or sexual assault prevention or assistance program. The qualified third party's report must be notarized.
Read House Bill 630.