<div class="xtend">
         <div class="xtend_ce"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A bill for an act<br />
            		
         </div><a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>relating to consumer protection; prohibiting price gouging on essential consumer <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>goods and services under certain conditions; providing enforcement authority;<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325E.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 1. <b>[325E.425] SALES OF ESSENTIAL CONSUMER GOODS AND </b><br />
         		<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var><b>SERVICES;  EXCESSIVE PRICES PROHIBITED.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subdivision 1. <b>Definitions.</b> For purposes of this section, the terms in this subdivision <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>have the meanings given them.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>(a) "Abnormal market disruption" means any change in the market resulting from <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>a natural or man-made disaster, a national or local emergency, or an event resulting in a <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>declaration of a state of emergency by the governor or president.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) "Disaster" has the meaning given in section 12.03, subdivision 2.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) "Emergency" has the meaning given in section 12.03, subdivision 3.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>(d) "Essential consumer goods or services" means goods or services vital and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, including, without limitation, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>food, water, fuel, gasoline, shelter, transportation, health care services, pharmaceuticals, <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>and medical supplies.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>(e) A price is "excessive" if:<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>(1) the amount charged represents a gross disparity between the price of the good <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>or service and  the price at which the same good or service was sold or offered for sale <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>in the usual course of business immediately prior to the onset of the abnormal market <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>disruption; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>(2) the disparity is not  attributable to significant additional costs not within the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>control of the seller and does not increase the seller's usual and customary profit margin.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 2. <b>Prohibition.</b> During any abnormal market disruption, no person shall sell <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>or offer to sell any essential consumer goods or services for an amount that represents <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>an excessive price.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 3. <b>Civil penalty.</b> Any person who violates this section is subject to a civil <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>penalty of not more than $10,000 per sale or transaction.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 4. <b>Enforcement authority.</b> The attorney general may investigate an <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>alleged violation of this section. The authority of the attorney general under this section <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>includes, but is not limited to, the authority provided for in section 8.31. In addition, the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>commissioner of commerce may use the authority under section 45.027 for the purpose of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>preventing violations of this section.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 5. <b>Relation to other law.</b> This section does not supersede section 325D.71.<br />
         		
      </div>