2006 Code of Virginia § 15.2-963 - Local offices of consumer affairs; establishment; powers and duties

15.2-963. Local offices of consumer affairs; establishment; powers andduties.

Any county or city may, by ordinance, establish a local office of consumeraffairs which shall have only such powers as may be necessary to perform thefollowing duties:

1. To serve as a central coordinating agency and clearinghouse for receivingand investigating complaints of illegal, fraudulent, deceptive or dangerouspractices occurring in such county or city, and referring such complaints tothe local departments or agencies charged with enforcement of consumer laws.The processing of complaints involving statutes or regulations administeredby state agencies shall be coordinated, where applicable, with the Departmentof Agriculture and Consumer Services;

2. To attempt to resolve complaints received pursuant to subdivision 1 hereofby means of voluntary mediation or arbitration which may involve the creationof written agreements to resolve individual complaints between complainantsand respondents to complaints;

3. To develop programs of community consumer education and information; and

4. To maintain records of consumer complaints and their eventual disposition,provided that records disclosing that business interests of any person, tradesecrets, or the names of customers shall be held confidential except to theextent that disclosures of such matters may be necessary for the enforcementof laws. A copy of all periodic reports compiled by any local office ofconsumer affairs shall be filed with the Department of Agriculture andConsumer Services.

(1974, c. 644, 15.1-23.2; 1987, c. 463; 1997, c. 587; 1998, c. 194.)