LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 75th Regular Session February 17, 1997 TO: Honorable Patricia Gray, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 118 Committee on Civil Practices By: Hirschi House Austin, Texas FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB118 ( Relating to increased civil penalties for deceptive trade practices against elderly consumers.) this office has detemined the following: Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB118-As Introduced Implementation of the provisions of the bill could result in increased revenue from penalties to the state. This amount would depend on the number of determinations by the Attorney General's Office that fraud or deception that was designed to acquire or deprive money or other property from a consumer of 60 years or older took place. FISCAL ANALYSIS The bill would amend section 17.47(c) of the Business and Commerce Code to allow the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General's Office to request a civil penalty for deceptive trade practices perpetrated against elderly consumers. The civil penalty would be paid to the state and could not exceed $10,000 per violation, or $100,000 total, upon determination by the Attorney General's Office that fraud or deception was designed to acquire or deprive money or other property from a consumer of 60 years or older. No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: PE ,JK