By Sims S.B. No. 214 74R2494 DWS-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to increased civil penalties for deceptive trade practices 1-3 against elderly consumers. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 17.47(c), Business & Commerce Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 (c) In addition to the request for a temporary restraining 1-8 order, or permanent injunction in a proceeding brought under 1-9 Subsection (a) of this section, the consumer protection division 1-10 may request a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 per violation, 1-11 not to exceed a total of $10,000, to be paid to the state. 1-12 However, if the act or practice that the proceeding brought under 1-13 this section seeks to enjoin or restrain is also the subject of a 1-14 court proceeding brought by an individual who is 65 years of age or 1-15 older, the consumer protection division may request a civil penalty 1-16 of not more than $5,000 per violation, not to exceed a total of 1-17 $25,000, to be paid to the state. 1-18 SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a proceeding brought 1-19 under Section 17.47, Business & Commerce Code, on or after the 1-20 effective date of this Act. 1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-2 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-3 passage, and it is so enacted.