By Jones of Dallas                                     H.B. No. 732
         77R2781 JMG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to disclosure of price information in a written
 1-3     advertisement for certain communications services; providing a
 1-4     civil penalty.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 35, Business & Commerce
 1-7     Code, is amended by adding Section 35.56 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 35.56.  ADVERTISEMENT OF PRICE INFORMATION FOR SATELLITE
 1-9     OR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE OR WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE. (a)  A
1-10     person who sells or provides satellite or cable television service
1-11     or wireless telephone service to another person in this state may
1-12     not display or publish, or cause to be displayed or published, a
1-13     written advertisement that contains information regarding the price
1-14     for that service unless the price information is printed in at
1-15     least 11-point type that is boldfaced, capitalized, underlined, or
1-16     otherwise conspicuously distinguished from surrounding written
1-17     material.
1-18           (b)  A person who violates this section is liable to the
1-19     state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for
1-20     each violation.  The attorney general or the prosecuting attorney
1-21     in the county in which the violation occurs may bring suit to
1-22     recover the civil penalty imposed under this section.
1-23           (c)  The attorney general may bring an action in the name of
1-24     the state to restrain or enjoin a person from violating this
 2-1     section.
 2-2           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
 2-3     applies to a written advertisement published or displayed on or
 2-4     after that date.