By: Bohac (Senate Sponsor - Watson) H.B. No. 2391

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2015; May 15, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 1; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the redemption of certain stored value cards, including gift cards, for cash.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 604, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Subchapter D to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D. REDEMPTION OF CERTAIN LOW-VALUE CARDS

Sec. 604.151. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This subchapter does not apply to a stored value card:

(1) described by Sections 604.002(1)-(3);

(2) issued as a refund for merchandise returned without a receipt; or

(3) that has an initial value of $5 or less and to which additional value cannot be added.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (a), Section 604.002 does not apply to this subchapter.

Sec. 604.152. CASH REFUND FOR LOW-VALUE CARD. If a stored value card is redeemed in person to make a purchase and a balance of less than $2.50 remains following the redemption, at the consumer's request the seller shall refund the balance of the card in cash to the consumer.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

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