2020 -- S 2731

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LC004988

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --

GENDER-BASED PRICE DISCRIMINATION

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Lawson, DiPalma, Goldin, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 6 of the General Laws entitled "COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL

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REGULATORY PROVISIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 58

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GENDER-BASED PRICE DISCRIMINATION

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     6-58-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings

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unless otherwise stated:

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     (1) "Comparable price" means a pricing scheme between products with a difference not

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exceeding ten cents ($0.10).

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     (2) "Gender-based" means the way products are marketed towards men or women with the

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intention that said product is to be used exclusively by a man or a woman.

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     (3) "Hygiene products" means any razors used for shaving, shaving cream, shaving gel,

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shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, bar soap, hair styling products, body lotion, hairbrushes, hair

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combs, deodorant, or anti-perspirant.

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     (4) "Retail establishment" means any place of business within the state that operates

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primarily to conduct the sale of goods.

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     (5) "Substantially similar" means a product with a similar build, ingredients, or size,

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excluding differences of scent or color.

 

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     6-58-2. Gender-based price equality.

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     Retail establishments shall sell all substantially similar hygiene products from the same

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manufacturer at a comparable price regardless of gender-based marketing schemes.

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     6-58-3. Penalty for violations.

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     (a) Any retail establishment who willfully violates the provisions of ยง 6-58-2 shall pay a

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fine up to five hundred dollars ($500) for a first offense.

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     (b) Each subsequent violation shall result in a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --

GENDER-BASED PRICE DISCRIMINATION

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     This act would ban gender-based price discrimination on hygiene products by retail

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establishments with a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for a first violation and one thousand

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dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent violation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004988

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