<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; regulating certain contracts entered into by <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>military service personnel; authorizing cancellations; requiring utilities to <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>establish payment arrangements for military service personnel;proposing coding <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 325E; 325G.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 1. <b>[325E.027] UTILITY PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MILITARY </b><br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var><b>SERVICE PERSONNEL.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subdivision 1. <b>Restriction on disconnection; payment schedules.</b> (a) A municipal <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility must not disconnect the utility <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>service of a residential customer if a member of the household has been issued orders into <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>active duty, for deployment, or for a permanent change in duty station during the period of <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>active duty, deployment, or change in duty station if such a residential customer:<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>(1) has a household income below the state median household income or is receiving <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>energy assistance and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>electric association, or public utility under which the residential customer pays ten percent <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>of the customer's gross monthly income toward the customer's bill and the residential <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>customer remains reasonably current with those payments; or<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>(2) has a household income above the state median household income and enters <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>utility establishing a reasonable payment schedule that considers the financial resources <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>of the household and the residential customer remains reasonably current with payments <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>under the payment schedule.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) For purposes of this subdivision, "household income" means household income <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.25"></a><var>1.25</var>measured after the date of the orders specified in paragraph (a).<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 2. <b>Annual notice to all customers; inability to pay forms.</b> (a) A municipal <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility must notify all residential <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>customers annually of the provisions of this section.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>(b) A municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility must <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>provide a form to a residential customer to request the protections of this section upon <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>the residential customer's request.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 3. <b>Application to service limiters.</b> For the purposes of this section, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>"disconnection" includes a service or load limiter or any device that limits or interrupts <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>electric service in any way.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 4. <b>Income verification.</b> Verification of income may be conducted by the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>local energy assistance provider or the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>or public utility unless the customer is automatically eligible for protection against <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>disconnection as a recipient of any form of public assistance, including energy assistance <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>that uses income eligibility in an amount at or below the income eligibility in subdivision <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>1, clause (1).<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 5. <b>Appeal process.</b> (a) The municipal utility, cooperative electric association, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>or public utility shall provide the residential customer with a commission-approved written <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>notice of the right to appeal to the commission when the utility and residential customer <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>are unable to agree on the establishment, reasonableness, or modification of a payment <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>schedule, or on the reasonable timeliness of the payments under a payment schedule, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>provided for by this section. Any appeal must be made within seven working days after <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>the residential customer's receipt of personally served notice, or within ten working days <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>after the utility has deposited first class mail notice in the United States mail.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>(b) The utility shall not disconnect service while a payment schedule is pending <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>appeal, or until any appeal involving payment schedules has been determined by the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>commission.<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sec. 2. <b>[325G.53] CANCELLATION WITHOUT PENALTY OF WIRELESS </b><br />
         		<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var><b>CONTRACTS BY MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subdivision 1. <b>Authority.</b> Any service member who has been issued orders into <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>active duty, for deployment, or for a permanent change of duty station, or the spouse of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>the service member, may terminate, without penalty, a wireless service contract, or some <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>portion of it, that is executed by or on behalf of the service member or by the spouse of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>that service member. "Service member" includes any business entity wholly owned by the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>service member or the service member's spouse.<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 2. <b>When effective.</b> Termination of the wireless service contract is not <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>effective until both of the following occur:<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>(1) 30 days after the service member or the service member's spouse gives notice by <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>certified mail, return receipt requested, of the intention to terminate the wireless service <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>contract or part of it, and provides a copy of the service member's order for activation, <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>deployment, or change of duty station; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>(2) if the service member or the service member's spouse owns the wireless <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>telephone, the wireless telephone is returned to the custody or control of the wireless <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>carrier, or the service member or the service member's spouse agrees in writing to return <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>the wireless telephone as soon as practicable after the military service is completed.<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sec. 3. <b>[325G.54] CANCELLATION WITHOUT PENALTY OF RENTAL, </b><br />
         		<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var><b>CLUB, SERVICE, AND MEMBERSHIP TRAVEL CONTRACTS BY MILITARY </b><br />
         		<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var><b>SERVICE PERSONNEL.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subdivision 1. <b>Application.</b> This section applies to any rental contracts, club <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>contracts under section 325G.23, service contracts, and membership travel contracts <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>under section 325G.50 in which: <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>(1) such a contract was executed by or on the behalf of a person who, after the <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>execution of the contract, was issued orders into active duty, for deployment, or for a <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>permanent change of duty station; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>(2) where as a result of the orders it is impractical for the person to enjoy the benefits <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>of the  contract. For purposes of the subdivision, "service member" includes any business <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>entity wholly owned by the service member or the service member's spouse.<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 2. <b>Authority.</b> A service member who enters into a rental, club, membership <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>travel, or service contract,  and who is issued orders into active duty, for deployment, or for <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>a permanent change of duty station, subsequent to the execution of the contract, is entitled <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>to cancel the contract at no penalty and with a full refund of any money which may have <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>been placed on deposit where the service member's military activation, deployment, or <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>change in duty station causes it to be impractical for the service member to abide by the <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>terms and conditions of the contract. For purposes of this subdivision, "service member" <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>includes any business entity wholly owned by the service member or the service member's <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>spouse. For purposes of this section, "service contract" includes those for services such as <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>television, computer, Internet service, or any other type of service.<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.33"></a><var>3.33</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Subd. 3. <b>Notice.</b> Any such contract may be terminated by notice in writing sent <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.34"></a><var>3.34</var>to the contractor by the person issued orders for active duty, for deployment, or for <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.35"></a><var>3.35</var>a permanent change of duty station, canceling the service member's rental, club, or <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var>membership travel contract within two weeks of the service member's receipt of the <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var>orders, and the notice must include a copy of the orders in question. Delivery of the <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.3"></a><var>4.3</var>notice must be made by certified mail addressed to the contractor. For purposes of this <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.4"></a><var>4.4</var>subdivision, "service member" includes any business entity wholly owned by the service <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.5"></a><var>4.5</var>member or the service member's spouse.<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.4.0"></a><a id="pl.4.6"></a><var>4.6</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sec. 4. <b>[325G.55] OTHER RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.4.7"></a><var>4.7</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The rights and protections afforded to service members under the Servicemembers <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.8"></a><var>4.8</var>Civil Relief Act, United States Code, title 50, Appendix, sections 501 to 596, also apply in <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.9"></a><var>4.9</var>Minnesota to any business wholly owned by the service member or the service member's <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.10"></a><var>4.10</var>spouse.<br />
         		<br />
         		<a id="bill.0.5.0"></a><a id="pl.4.11"></a><var>4.11</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sec. 5. <b>ENFORCEMENT.</b><br />
         		<a id="pl.4.12"></a><var>4.12</var>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section 1 may be enforced pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B. Sections 2, <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.13"></a><var>4.13</var>3, and 4 may be enforced by the attorney general pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section <br />
         		<a id="pl.4.14"></a><var>4.14</var>8.31, and are subject to the penalties set forth in that section.<br />
         		
      </div>