1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Breach of the security of a system” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-3504, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   2. (2) “Business customer” means a person who supplies to a consumer reporting agency information for inclusion in a consumer report.
   3. (3) “Collection agency” has the meaning stated in Business Regulation Article, §7-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   4. (4) “Commissioner” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   5. (5) “Consumer” means an individual who resides in Maryland.
   6. (6) “Consumer report” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.

   7. (7) Consumer Reporting Agency.

      1. (a) “Consumer reporting agency” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.

      2. (b) “Consumer reporting agency” does not include a person who regularly extends credit to consumers and is:

         1. (i) Licensed to extend credit by the Commissioner; or
         2. (ii) A financial institution chartered under the laws of this State or the laws of the United States, the lending operators of which are subject to supervision, examination, and regulation by a State or federal agency.
   8. (8) “Control person” means a person who has the power, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of a consumer reporting agency, whether through ownership of securities, by contract, or otherwise.
   9. (9) “File” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   10. (10) “Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry” or “NMLS” has the meaning stated in Financial Institutions Article, §11-501, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   11. (11) “Person” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-1201, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   12. (12) “Personal information” has the meaning stated in Commercial Law Article, §14-3501, Annotated Code of Maryland.
   13. (13) “Simple and easy to understand” has the meaning stated in 16 CFR §642.2.

   14. (14) “Specialty consumer reporting agency” means a consumer reporting agency that prepares and retains files for one or more of the following:

       1. (a) Residential history;
       2. (b) Tenant history; or
       3. (c) Employment history.

Authority: Business Regulation Article, §2-105; Commercial Law Article, §§14-1216(b) and (e), 14-1217(b)(9) and (10) and (d), 14-1218(e), and 14-1226(f) and (g); Financial Institutions Article, §2-105.1(b) and (c); Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: June 6, 1994 (21:11 Md. R. 950)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 09.04.07 to COMAR 09.03.07, April, 1998

Chapter revised effective October 19, 2020 (47:21 Md. R. 903)