(a) The provisions of this title shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate the general purposes stated in section 1 of this title.

(b) The discretionary powers authorized by this title shall be exercised in accordance with the criteria stated in the title. If these criteria are not dispositive in a particular instance, the general purposes established in section 1 of this title shall be controlling. (Added 1971, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 20.)