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S.B. 66 Enrolled

             1     

PRICE CONTROLS DURING EMERGENCIES

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2006 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Patrice M. Arent

             6     
House Sponsor: David Clark

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill addresses the territorial extent of an emergency for purposes of Title 13,
             11      Chapter 41, Price Controls During Emergencies Act.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines "emergency territory"; and
             15          .    makes technical changes.
             16      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          13-41-102, as enacted by Chapter 306, Laws of Utah 2005
             23          13-41-202, as enacted by Chapter 306, Laws of Utah 2005
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 13-41-102 is amended to read:
             27           13-41-102. Definitions.
             28          For purposes of this chapter:
             29          (1) "Consumer" means a person who acquires a good or service for consumption.


             30          (2) "Division" means the Division of Consumer Protection.
             31          (3) (a) "Emergency territory" means the geographical area:
             32          (i) for which there has been a state of emergency declared[.]; and
             33          (ii) that is directly affected by the events giving rise to a state of emergency.
             34          (b) "Emergency territory" does not include a geographical area that is affected by the
             35      events giving rise to a state of emergency only by economic market forces.
             36          (4) "Excessive price" means a price for a good or service that exceeds by more than
             37      10% the average price charged by that person for that good or service in the 30-day period
             38      immediately preceding the day on which the state of emergency is declared.
             39          (5) "Good" means any personal property displayed, held, or offered for sale by a
             40      merchant that is necessary for consumption or use as a direct result of events giving rise to a
             41      state of emergency.
             42          (6) "Retail" means the level of distribution where a good or service is typically sold
             43      directly, or otherwise provided, to a member of the public who is an end-user and does not
             44      resell the good or service.
             45          (7) "Service" means any activity that is performed in whole or in part for the purpose of
             46      financial gain including, but not limited to, personal service, professional service, rental,
             47      leasing, or licensing for use that is necessary for consumption or use as a direct result of events
             48      giving rise to a state of emergency.
             49          (8) "State of emergency" means a declaration of:
             50          (a) an emergency or major disaster by the President of the United States of America; or
             51          (b) a state of emergency by the governor under Section 63-5a-5 .
             52          Section 2. Section 13-41-202 is amended to read:
             53           13-41-202. Enforcement -- Penalty.
             54          (1) The division shall enforce this chapter.
             55          (2) In determining whether to impose penalties against a person who violates this
             56      chapter, the division shall consider:
             57          (a) the person's cost of doing business not accounted for in the cost to the person of the


             58      good or service, including costs associated with a decrease in the supply available to a person
             59      who relies on a high volume of sales;
             60          (b) the person's efforts to comply with this chapter;
             61          (c) whether the average price charged by the person during the 30-day period
             62      immediately preceding the day on which the state of emergency is declared is artificially
             63      deflated because the good or service was on sale for a lower price than the person customarily
             64      charges for the good or service; and
             65          (d) any other factor that the division considers appropriate.
             66          (3) (a) If the division finds that a person has violated, or is violating, this chapter, the
             67      division may:
             68          (i) issue a cease and desist order; and
             69          (ii) subject to Subsection [(2)] (3)(b), impose an administrative fine of up to $1,000 for
             70      each violation of this chapter.
             71          (b) Each instance of charging an excessive price under Section 13-41-201 constitutes a
             72      separate violation, but in no case shall the administrative fine imposed under Subsection (3)(a)
             73      exceed $10,000 per day.
             74          (4) The division may sue in a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce an order under
             75      Subsection (3).
             76          (5) In a suit brought under Subsection (3), if the division prevails, the court may award
             77      the division:
             78          (a) court costs;
             79          (b) attorney fees; and
             80          (c) the division's costs incurred in the investigation of the violation of this chapter.
             81          (6) All money received through an administrative fine imposed, or judgment obtained,
             82      under this section shall be deposited in the Consumer Protection Education and Training Fund
             83      created by Section 13-2-8 .


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