H.R. No. 1242



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, With gasoline prices at record levels, Texans want 
assurances that high prices are not the result of consumer fraud and 
want information to help them find the lowest possible price for 
gasoline in their community; and
	WHEREAS, The average price of $2.157 per gallon that Texas 
motorists paid in early April 2005 was the highest gasoline price in 
Texas ever recorded by the American Automobile Association up to 
that point; it also was 49.9 cents higher than last year's average 
of $1.658 per gallon; less than a week later, the average price had 
risen even higher, to $2.175 per gallon; and
	WHEREAS, When gasoline prices go up, drivers pay more to get 
where they are going, farmers pay more to run their tractors and 
combines, and truckers pay more to transport goods; this ripple 
effect of rising prices impacts all consumer goods and is 
especially hard on Texans trying to make ends meet; and
	WHEREAS, The Deceptive Trade Practices Act and other consumer 
protection statutes are subject to action by the consumer 
protection division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas 
to protect Texans against consumer fraud, including price gouging; 
and
	WHEREAS, Attorneys general in Texas and other states found 
evidence of gasoline price gouging following the September 11, 
2001, terrorist attacks and again in 2003; there is concern that 
current market conditions may be used as a cover to excessively 
raise prices once more; and
	WHEREAS, To promote gasoline price competition, the Florida 
attorney general launched a website in 2004 to allow citizens to 
find and report the lowest gasoline prices in their community as 
well as to report any suspicion of excessively high gasoline 
prices; and
	WHEREAS, Illinois is another state where the state attorney 
general helps residents to check average gasoline prices in any 
city or town in the state and to file a complaint if price gouging is 
suspected; and
	WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the attorney general's 
consumer protection division to investigate unexplained price 
hikes that could be the result of consumer fraud; local gasoline 
price monitoring would provide Texans with an extra level of 
protection; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby direct the Office of the Attorney General of 
Texas to conduct a study to ensure that high gasoline prices in 
Texas are not the result of consumer fraud; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Office of the Attorney General of Texas 
follow the lead of other state attorneys general and provide 
information to help Texas consumers find the lowest possible price 
for gasoline in their community; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the Texas House of 
Representatives forward an official copy of this resolution to the 
attorney general of the State of Texas.

                                                                         Edwards

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 1242 was adopted by the House on May 
27, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House