§ 3.2-114. (Effective October 1, 2008) Powers and duties of Office.
A. The Office shall have only such powers as may be necessary to perform the following duties:
1. Promote consumer education in cooperation with the Department of Education and inform the public of policies, decisions and legislation affecting consumers;
2. Serve as a central coordinating agency and clearinghouse for receiving and investigating complaints by the Commonwealth's consumers of illegal, fraudulent, deceptive or dangerous practices and referring appropriate complaints to the federal, state and local departments or agencies charged with enforcement of consumer laws;
3. Maintain records of consumer complaints and their eventual disposition, which records shall be open for public inspection, provided that information disclosing the business interests of any person, trade secrets, or the names of customers shall be held confidential except to the extent that disclosure of such matters may be necessary for the enforcement of laws;
4. Enter into agreements or accept commissions from federal agencies; and
5. Exercise such powers and perform such duties as requested by the Commissioner under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (§ 59.1-196 et seq.).
B. If the department or agency to which a complaint is referred pursuant to subdivision A 2 determines that the matter cannot be settled at an administrative level, the complaint together with all supporting evidence may be transmitted to the appropriate enforcement officer for such legal action as may be necessary.
C. The responsibility of the Office in these matters shall not be limited to those areas of peculiar interest to the Department, but shall embrace the consumer programs and responsibilities of all the departments and agencies of the Commonwealth.
(1970, c. 777, § 3.1-18.2; 1978, c. 219; 1986, c. 30; 1995, c. 703; 2008, c. 860.)
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