BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3702

By: Burrows

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that the current civil penalty imposed under the Deceptive Trade Practices‑Consumer Protection Act may be inappropriate and intimidating to a company that acted innocently and has not engaged in misleading activities. H.B. 3702 seeks to protect those who have made an innocent mistake by decreasing the maximum civil penalty per violation of that act.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3702 amends the Business & Commerce Code to decrease from $20,000 to $10,000 the maximum civil penalty that may be recovered by the attorney general per violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.