H.B. 358

1

CONSUMER WARRANTIES ON ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Fred R. Hunsaker
5 AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE; CREATING THE
6 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY WARRANTY ACT; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS;
7 PROVIDING WARRANTIES FOR SALE OR LEASE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY;
8 PROVIDING REMEDIES FOR NONCONFORMING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY;
9 PROVIDING FOR REFUNDS AND THEIR COMPUTATION; PROTECTING THE
10 CONSUMER FROM LEASE ENFORCEMENT IN CASES OF REFUND; PROHIBITING
11 RESALE OR RELEASE OF RETURNED TECHNOLOGY; PROHIBITING WAIVER OF
12 CONSUMER RIGHTS; PROVIDING ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS; PRESERVING
13 OTHER REMEDIES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
14 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
15 ENACTS:
16 70A-2-801, Utah Code Annotated 1953
17 70A-2-802, Utah Code Annotated 1953
18 70A-2-803, Utah Code Annotated 1953
19 70A-2-804, Utah Code Annotated 1953
20 70A-2-805, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21 70A-2-806, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22 70A-2-807, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23 70A-2a-534, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 70A-2-801 is enacted to read:
26 Part 8. Assistive Technology Warranty Act
27 70A-2-801. Title.

1 This part is known as the "Assistive Technology Warranty Act."
2 Section 2. Section 70A-2-802 is enacted to read:
3 70A-2-802. Definitions.
4 As used in this chapter:
5 (1) "Assistive technology" means any new device or equipment, including a demonstrator,
6 with a retail price of $1,000 or more, which is used for a major life activity including breathing,
7 walking, standing, speaking, hearing, seeing, communicating, learning, working, performing
8 manual tasks, or caring for oneself.
9 (a) Assistive technology includes:
10 (i) manual wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs, motorized scooters, and other aids that
11 enhance the mobility of an individual;
12 (ii) hearing aids, telephone communication devices for the deaf (TDD), assistive listening
13 devices, and other aids that enhance an individual's ability to hear or communicate; and
14 (iii) voice-synthesized computer modules, optical scanners, talking software, braille
15 printers, and other devices that enhance an individual's ability to access print or communicate.
16 (b) Assistive technology does not include batteries, nonfunctional accessories, and normal
17 recurring maintenance needs.
18 (2) "Collateral costs" means expenses incurred by a consumer in connection with the repair
19 of a nonconformity, including the cost of sales tax and of obtaining alternative assistive
20 technology.
21 (3) "Consumer" means any person including a public agency or other private organization,
22 who acquires assistive technology on behalf of or for the benefit of an individual who:
23 (a) purchases assistive technology from a manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer for
24 purposes other than resale;
25 (b) obtains or otherwise receives assistive technology for purposes other than resale, but
26 only if the transfer occurs before the expiration of any applicable express warranties;
27 (c) possesses the right to enforce the warranty; or
28 (d) leases assistive technology from an authorized lessor under a written lease.
29 (4) "Dealer" means a person who is in the business of selling assistive technology.
30 (5) "Demonstrator" means assistive technology used primarily for the purpose of

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31 demonstration to the public.
31a h (6) "DISBURSEMENTS" MEANS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY CONSUMERS MAY RECEIVE AS
31b PART OF A DAMAGE AWARD BASED UPON THE PRO RATA SHARE OF INVESTMENT BY THE
31c CONSUMERS. h























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lilac-February 25, 1997

1 h [(6)] (7) h "Early termination cost" means any expense or obligation that a lessor incurs
1a as a result
2 of both the termination of a written lease before the termination date set forth in that lease and the
3 return of the assistive technology to the manufacturer. Early termination cost includes a penalty
4 for prepayment under a finance arrangement.
5 h [(7)] (8) h "Early termination savings" means any expense or obligation that a lessor
5a avoids as
6 a result of both the termination of a written lease before the termination date set forth in that lease
7 and the return of assistive technology to a manufacturer which shall include an interest charge that
8 the lessor would have paid to finance the assistive technology or, if the lessor does not finance the
9 assistive technology, the difference between the total period of the lease term remaining after the
10 early termination and the present value of that amount at the date of the early termination.
11 h [(8)] (9) h "Lease price" means the total amount for which the written lease obligates the
12 consumer.
13 h [(9)] (10) h "Lessee" means a person who leases assistive technology as a consumer under
13a a written
14 lease.
15 h [(10)] (11) h "Lessor" means a person who leases assistive technology to consumers or
15a who holds
16 the lessor's rights under a written lease.
17 h [(11)] (12) h "Manufacturer" means a person who manufactures or assembles assistive
17a technology
18 including agents of that person, an importer, a distributor, a factory branch, distributor branch, and
19 any warrantors of the manufacturer's assistive technology, but does not include a dealer or lessor
20 of assistive technology.
21 h [(12)] (13) h "Nonconformity" means any defect, condition, or malfunction which
21a substantially
22 impairs the use, value, or safety of assistive technology, but does not include a condition, defect,
23 or malfunction that is the result of abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification or alternation of
24 the assistive technology by the consumer.
25 Section 3. Section 70A-2-803 is enacted to read:
26 70A-2-803. Warranties.

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27 (1) A manufacturer who sells h OR LEASES h assistive technology to a consumer in this
27a state, either
28 directly or through an authorized dealer or lessor, shall warrant that the assistive technology shall
29 be free from any condition, defect, or malfunction which substantially impairs the use, value, or
30 safety of the assistive technology for a period of one year from the date of original delivery.
31 (2) Nothing in this chapter shall limit the ability of the manufacturer or any dealer or lessor




















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1 from providing additional warranties on assistive technology nor limit or affect any other
2 warranties applicable to assistive technology, whether implied or expressed.
3 Section 4. Section 70A-2-804 is enacted to read:
4 70A-2-804. Nonconforming assistive technology -- Remedies.
5 (1) If assistive technology does not conform to any applicable warranties, and the
6 consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer or lessor
7 within one year from the date of original delivery to the consumer, the manufacturer, its agent, or
8 authorized dealer or lessor shall make repairs necessary to conform the assistive technology to the
9 warranties, whether or not the repairs are made after one year from the date of original delivery.
10 Repairs made under warranty shall be at no charge to the consumer.
11 (2) After a reasonable attempt to repair the assistive technology, if the manufacturer, its
12 agent, or authorized dealer or lessor is unable to conform the assistive technology to applicable
13 warranties by repairing or correcting any defect, condition, or malfunction that substantially
14 impairs the use, value, or safety of the assistive technology, the manufacturer shall, within 30 days
15 of notice from and at the direction of the consumer:
16 (a) replace the assistive technology with comparable new assistive technology and refund
17 any collateral costs; or
18 (b) accept return of the assistive technology and refund the full purchase price, collateral
19 costs, and any finance charges paid at the point of sale, less a reasonable allowance for the use of
20 the assistive technology.
21 (3) A "reasonable attempt to repair" has been made to conform assistive technology to
22 applicable warranties if:
23 (a) the assistive technology has been subject to repair three or more times S , FOR THE SAME
23a REASON, s by the
24 manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer or lessor; or
25 (b) the assistive technology is out of service to the consumer for an aggregate of 30 or
26 more calendar days because of warranty nonconformities. The 30 days shall begin upon the day
27 the consumer first makes the assistive technology available for repair to the manufacturer, its
28 agent, or authorized dealer or lessor.
29 Section 5. Section 70A-2-805 is enacted to read:
Text Box

Amend on 3_goldenrod March 5, 1997 30 70A-2-805. Refunds -- Computation -- Prohibition of enforcement of lease against
31 consumer.

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1 (1) Refunds paid by the manufacturer shall be made to the consumer, any lessor, and any
2 perfected lienholders as their interests may appear in order of priority.
3 (2) A reasonable allowance for use may not exceed the amount obtained by multiplying
4 the full purchase price or lease price of the assistive technology by a fraction, the denominator of
5 which is 1,825 and the numerator of which is the number of days the consumer used the assistive
6 technology before first reporting the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent, or authorized
7 dealer or lessor.
8 (3) (a) For a consumer who leases assistive technology from a lessor, the manufacturer
9 shall refund to the lessor and to any holder of a perfected security interest in the assistive
10 technology, as the interest may appear, the current value of the written lease.
11 (b) The current value of the written lease equals the total amount for which that lease
12 obligates the consumer during the period of the lease remaining after its early termination, plus the
13 assistive technology dealer's early termination costs and the value of the assistive technology at
14 the lease expiration date if the lease sets forth that value, less the assistive technology lessor's early
15 termination savings.
16 (c) The manufacturer shall refund to the consumer the amount that the consumer paid
17 under the lease plus any collateral costs, less a reasonable allowance for use.
18 (4) The lease may not be enforced against the consumer if the consumer receives a refund
19 under this chapter.
20 Section 6. Section 70A-2-806 is enacted to read:
21 70A-2-806. Resale or release of returned assistive technology -- Prohibition.
22 Assistive technology which is replaced by a manufacturer under this chapter or under a
23 similar law of another state may not be sold or leased again in this state unless full written
24 disclosure of the reason for return is made to any prospective purchaser or lessee.
25 Section 7. Section 70A-2-807 is enacted to read:
26 70A-2-807. Consumer may not waive rights under chapter -- Enforcement --
27 Remedies not exclusive.
28 (1) Any waiver by a consumer of rights under this chapter is void.
29 (2) (a) A consumer may bring an action in district court to enforce the consumer's rights
30 under this chapter.
31 (b) The court shall award a consumer who prevails in an action under this chapter twice

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1 the amount of any pecuniary loss, together with costs, disbursements, reasonable attorney's fees,
2 and any equitable relief that the court determines is appropriate.
3 (3) The attorney general may file an action in district court to enforce this chapter on
4 behalf of any consumer or in its own behalf. In addition to the other remedies provided in this
5 chapter, the attorney general is also entitled to an award for reasonable attorney's fees, court costs,
6 and investigative expenses.
7 (4) This chapter shall not be construed as imposing any liability on an authorized dealer
8 or lessor or as creating a cause of action by a consumer against a dealer or lessor, except regarding
9 any express warranties made by the dealer or lessor apart from the manufacturer's warranties.
10 (5) Nothing in this chapter shall limit or impair the rights or remedies which are otherwise
11 available to a consumer under any other provision of law.
12 Section 8. Section 70A-2a-534 is enacted to read:
13 70A-2a-534. Other remedies.
14 In addition to the rights and remedies provided for lease agreements and lease disputes in
15 this chapter, a consumer, dealer, lessee, lessor, and manufacturer of assistive technology as defined
16 in Section 70A-2-802 may exercise rights and seek remedies pursuant to any lease agreement
17 under Title 70A, Chapter 2, Part 8, Assistive Technology Warranty Act, as limited by Subsections
18 70A-2-805(4) and 70A-5-807(4).
19 Section 9. Effective date.
20 This act takes effect on July 1, 1997.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-7-97 7:37 AM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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