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First Substitute S.B. 250

Senator John L. Valentine proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CLASS ACTIONS RELATING TO TAXES OR FEES

             2     
ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE TAX

             3     
COMMISSION

             4     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Sponsor: John L. Valentine

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill addresses class actions that relate to a tax or fee administered by the State Tax
             11      Commission.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    provides a definition;
             15          .    provides limitations on maintaining a class action that relates to a tax or fee
             16      administered by the State Tax Commission;
             17          .    establishes requirements for a person to be included as a member of a class in a
             18      class action;
             19          .    provides limitations on the amount that may be recovered by members of a class;
             20      and
             21          .    provides a severability clause.
             22      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          This bill provides an effective date.



             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      ENACTS:
             28          59-1-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 59-1-304 is enacted to read:
             32          59-1-304. Definition -- Limitations on maintaining a class action that relates to a
             33      tax or fee -- Requirements for a person to be included as a member of a class in a class
             34      action -- Limitations on recovery by members of a class -- Severability.
             35          (1) As used in this section, "tax or fee" means a tax or fee administered by the
             36      commission.
             37          (2) A class action that relates to a tax or fee may not be maintained in any court if a
             38      claim sought by a representative party seeking to maintain the class action arises as a result of:
             39          (a) a person collecting a tax or fee from the representative party if the representative
             40      party is not required by law to pay the tax or fee; or
             41          (b) any of the following that requires a change in the manner in which a tax or fee is
             42      required to be collected or paid:
             43          (i) an administrative rule made by the commission;
             44          (ii) a private letter ruling issued by the commission; or
             45          (iii) a decision issued by:
             46          (A) the commission; or
             47          (B) a court of competent jurisdiction.
             48          (3) A person may be included as a member of a class in a class action relating to a tax
             49      or fee only if:
             50          (a) the person exhausts all administrative remedies with the commission; and
             51          (b) requests in writing to be included as a member of the class.
             52          (4) Subject to Subsection (5), in a class action against the state or its political
             53      subdivisions in which members of the class are awarded a refund or credit of a tax or fee by a
             54      court of competent jurisdiction, the total amount that may be recovered by members of the
             55      class may not exceed the difference between:
             56          (a) the sum of:


             57          (i) the amount of the refund or credit awarded to members of the class; and
             58          (ii) interest as provided in Section 59-1-402 ; and
             59          (b) if awarded in accordance with Subsection (5), the sum of:
             60          (i) reasonable costs; and
             61          (ii) reasonable attorneys' fees.
             62          (5) (a) For purposes of Subsection (4), at the discretion of the court, the court may
             63      award:
             64          (i) reasonable costs as determined by the court; and
             65          (ii) reasonable attorneys' fees determined under Subsection (5)(b).
             66          (b) Reasonable attorneys' fees awarded in a class action may not exceed a reasonable
             67      hourly rate for work actually performed:
             68          (i) as determined by the court; and
             69          (ii) taking into account all facts and circumstances that the court considers reasonable.
             70          (6) If any provision of this section, or the application of any provision of this section to
             71      any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent
             72      jurisdiction, the remainder of the section shall be given effect without the invalid provision or
             73      application.
             74          Section 2. Effective date.
             75          (1) Subject to Subsection (2), if approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to
             76      each house, this bill takes effect upon approval by the governor, or the day following the
             77      constitutional time limit of Utah Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's
             78      signature, or in the case of a veto, the date of veto override.
             79          (2) This bill applies to an action for which a court of competent jurisdiction has not
             80      issued an order as of the effective date of this bill certifying the action as a class action in
             81      accordance with Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23.


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