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Budget Year / Version:
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Program Description

  Consumer Protection

The Consumer Protection program is a law enforcement function established in 1971 responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business acts to ensure fairness and integrity in the marketplace for consumers and businesses. The program is responsible for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints, educating consumers and merchants, and registering and licensing certain businesses. The program has the authority to issue civil citations for violations of law, issue subpoenas to compel testimony and documents, and collaborate with other agencies to advocate for legislation. The program also staffs the Patient Advocate, administers the Domestic Worker law, and provides the County's Public Election Fund Liaison Service.

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Program Contacts

Contact Shaun Carew of the Office of Consumer Protection at 240-777-3675 or Eva Acevedo of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2763 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

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Program Performance Measures

Program Performance MeasuresActual FY23Actual FY24Estimated FY25Target FY26Target FY27
Number of business registrations received 1759666700780690
Number of complaint cases received1,1691,1191,1001,1701,200
Percent of consumer protection cases closed that are resolved by OCP62.1%59.7%60.0%60.0%60.0%
Average number of calendar days to issue a business license or certificate of registration (excluding new home builder registrations)6.14.95.05.05.0
Average number of workdays to investigate and close a written complaint (all complaints)38.137.536.037.038.0
Average OCP customer satisfaction rating - Outcome of the customer's case (5-point scale) based on customer satisfaction survey4.54.54.04.04.0
1  Actual FY24 amount includes registrations issued for new home builders, new home sellers, motor vehicle repair and towing operators, secondhand personal property dealers, and small electrical repair dealers.
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Program Budget Changes

FY26 Recommended ChangesExpendituresFTEs
FY25 Approved283954918.00
Decrease Cost: Miscellaneous Operating Expenses-208810.00
Multi-program adjustments, including negotiated compensation changes, employee benefit changes, changes due to staff turnover, reorganizations, and other budget changes affecting multiple programs.1891360.00
FY26 Recommended300780418.00