2012 -- S 2676 | |
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LC00195 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS - | |
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES | |
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     Introduced By: Senators Miller, Perry, Lynch, Nesselbush, and Jabour | |
     Date Introduced: March 01, 2012 | |
     Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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     SECTION 1. Section 6-13.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 6-13.1 entitled "Deceptive |
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Trade Practices" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
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     6-13.1-4. Exemptions. – (a) Nothing in this chapter shall apply to actions or transactions |
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permitted under laws administered by the department of business regulation or other regulatory |
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body or officer acting under statutory authority of this state or the United States. |
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     (b) Notwithstanding subsection 6-13.1-4(a), if a consumer’s claim is otherwise a |
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violation of the provisions of this chapter and a state regulatory body does not have the statutory |
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authority to obtain reimbursement, restitution or compensation on behalf of the aggrieved |
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consumer, the attorney general shall have the authority to proceed pursuant to this chapter, |
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including, but not limited to, filing a complaint in superior court for damages or injunctive relief |
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on behalf of the consumer. In order for the attorney general to take such action, the consumer |
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must file a formal complaint with the attorney general’s consumer protection unit. It shall be the |
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attorney general’s burden of proof to show that the state regulatory body does not have the |
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statutory authority to award or authorize reimbursement, restitution or compensation with respect |
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to the consumer complaint concerning a particular action or transaction. The attorney general may |
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rely on the original decision of the state regulatory body as evidence of violation of this chapter. |
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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC00195 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS - | |
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES | |
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     This act would give the attorney general supplemental jurisdiction under the deceptive |
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trade practices act where the regulatory agency does not have the authority to award a consumer |
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reimbursement, restitution or compensation with respect to a consumer’s claim. |
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     This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC00195 | |
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