79R13140 CLE-D

By:  Edwards                                                      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.