HF 2899

1st Unofficial Engrossment - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 06/06/2018 02:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to consumer protection; regulating certain disclosures and notifications;
requiring notification to insureds of the statutory prohibition against payment of
rebates or deductibles by residential contractors; requiring certain video game
disclosures; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 325E.66, subdivision 1;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325I.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 325E.66, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Payment or rebate of insurance deductible.

A residential contractor
providing home repair or improvement services to be paid by an insured from the proceeds
of a property or casualty insurance policy shall not, as an inducement to the sale or provision
of goods or services to an insured, advertise or promise to pay, directly or indirectly, all or
part of any applicable insurance deductible or offer to compensate an insured for providing
any service to the insured. If a residential contractor violates this section, the insurer to
whom the insured tendered the claim shall not be obligated to consider the estimate prepared
by the residential contractor. The residential contractor must provide a written explanation
of the requirements of this section with its initial estimate. The adjuster or insurer must
provide a written explanation of the requirements of this section in the initial estimate
relating to the claim.

For purposes of this section, "residential contractor" means a residential roofer, as defined
in section 326B.802, subdivision 14; a residential building contractor, as defined in section
326B.802, subdivision 11; and a residential remodeler, as defined in section 326B.802,
subdivision 12.

Sec. 2.

[325I.08] VIDEO GAMES; PROBABILITY RATES; DISCLOSURE.

Subdivision 1.

Disclosure.

Video game publishers that distribute video games that
contain a system of further purchasing of (1) a randomized reward or rewards, or (2) a
consumable virtual item that can be redeemed and directly or indirectly converted to a
randomized reward or rewards shall prominently disclose and publish to the consumer the
probability rates of receiving each type of randomized reward or rewards at the time of
purchase and at the time any mechanism to receive a randomized reward or rewards is
activated so as to meaningfully inform the consumer's decision prior to the purchase or
activation of any mechanism to receive a randomized reward or rewards.

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

(a) For purposes of this section, the terms in paragraphs (b) and
(c) have the meanings given.

(b) "Video game" means an object or device that stores recorded data or instructions,
receives data or instructions generated by a person who uses it, and, by processing the data
or instructions, creates an interactive game capable of being played, viewed, or experienced
on or through a computer, gaming system, console, or other technology.

(c) "Video game publisher" means an entity that publishes video games that have either
been created internally or through a separate entity.

Subd. 3.

Enforcement.

The attorney general shall enforce this section under section
8.31.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective July 1, 2018.