COBI 2015 - Consumer Protection

Overview
Issues
Background
Financials

Sources Uses

FY 2016 Appropriation

The Division of Consumer Protection helps consumers and businesses deal with dishonest commercial practices. The division enforces thirteen consumer protection statutes. It responds to consumer complaints, prevents and corrects unfair and deceptive business practices, provides consumer relief and promotes consumer education programs. The division's primary goal is to balance the need to provide a regulatory environment that is firm, reasonable, and fair against the need to protects consumers and encourage business growth.

The mission of the division is to "respond to consumer complaints, unfair and deceptive business practices, and provide consumer education. The Division has a three-pronged approach to consumer protection: education, registration, and enforcement."

Funding History

Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $2,021,100 from all sources for Consumer Protection. This is a 4.9 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Transportation Network Company Amendments$20,000$0

OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source

$20,000$0GFR - Commerce Service

Enactment of this legislation could increase revenue to the Commerce Service Fund by $20,000 annually. Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Commerce $20,000 annually to register, audit and investigate Transportation Network Companies.

Statute

The Division of Consumer Protection statutory comes from 16 different statutes.

UCA-13-2 is the authorizing statute for the division
UCA-13-15 is the Business Disclosure Act
UCA-13-22 is the Charitable Solicitation Act
UCA-13-39 is the Child Protection Registry Act
UCA-13-11 is the Consumer Sales Practices Act
UCA-13-21 is the Credit Services Organizations Act
UCA-13-23 is the Health Spa Services Protection Act
UCA-13-10a is the Music Licensing Practices Act
UCA-13-20 is the New Motor Vehicles Warranty Act (Lemon Law)
UCA-13-32a is the Pawnshop Transaction Information Act
UCA-13-28 is the Prize Notice Regulation Act
UCA-13-34 is the Postsecondary Proprietary School Act
UCA-76-6a is the Pyramid Scheme Act
UCA-13-25a is the Telephone and Facsimile Solicitation Act
UCA-13-5 is the Unfair Practices Act
UCA-13-42 is the Uniform Debt-Management Act
UCA-13-41 is the Price Controls During Emergencies Act
UCA-13-26 is the Telephone Fraud Prevention Act

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 67

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Office of Consumer Services in Item 22 of Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014, lapse to the Offices' Professional and Technical Services Fund at the close of Fiscal Year 2015.

HB0003: Item 67

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Department of Commerce, Division of Public Utilities in Item 22 of Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014, lapse to the Divisions' Professional and Technical Services Fund at the close of Fiscal Year 2015.

The Division of Consumer Protection is primarily funded through the Commerce Service Fund.

Display By:

Funding Source

Expenditure Category

Appropriation Type:

Appropriation History by

Sources of Finance	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Dedicated Credits Revenue	0	0	0	0	10,000	0	10,000	0	10,000
GFR - Commerce Service	1,299,100	1,553,800	1,688,800	1,735,200	1,775,900	0	1,775,900	92,300	1,868,200
GFR - Commerce Service, One-time	0	0	0	5,200	10,300	0	10,300	900	11,200
GFR - Pawnbroker Operations	129,000	129,000	129,000	129,100	130,100	0	130,100	1,600	131,700
Transfers	0	(41,000)	(149,900)	(41,000)	0	0	0	0	0
Lapsing Balance	(9,700)	(151,500)	(235,200)	(222,300)	0	0	0	0	0
Total	$1,418,400	$1,490,300	$1,432,700	$1,606,200	$1,926,300	$0	$1,926,300	$94,800	$2,021,100

Categories of Expenditure	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Change	FY15 Revised	FY16 Change	FY16 Approp
Personnel Services	1,321,800	1,410,400	1,373,700	1,521,800	1,769,400	44,900	1,814,300	71,100	1,885,400
In-state Travel	0	300	0	100	500	0	500	0	500
Out-of-state Travel	0	0	0	0	500	0	500	0	500
Current Expense	96,300	78,700	56,500	82,000	114,900	(44,900)	70,000	23,000	93,000
DP Current Expense	300	900	2,500	2,300	41,000	0	41,000	700	41,700
Total	$1,418,400	$1,490,300	$1,432,700	$1,606,200	$1,926,300	$0	$1,926,300	$94,800	$2,021,100

Show Table | Show Additional Information

Other Indicators	FY11 Actual	FY12 Actual	FY13 Actual	FY14 Actual	FY15 Approp	FY15 Revised	FY16 Approp
Budgeted FTE	23	22	21	22	22	22	22
Actual FTE	23	19.10	18.30	19.60	0	0	0
Vehicles	2	2	2	2	2	2	2

COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.