1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to consumer protection; regulating consumer contracts; imposing certain 
1.3 	language requests; providing remedies;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, 
1.4 	section 325G.31.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 325G.31, is amended to read:
1.7 	325G.31 PLAIN LANGUAGE REQUIRED REQUIREMENTS.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Requirements. (a) Except as provided in section 325G.32, every 
1.9 	consumer contract shall must be written in a clear and coherent manner using words with 
1.10 	common and everyday meanings and shall must be appropriately divided and captioned 
1.11 	by its various sections.  
1.12 	(b) If, in the course of entering into a consumer contract, a person negotiates with 
1.13 	the consumer in a language other than English, the consumer contract entered into must be 
1.14 	written in the language used by the parties during the negotiations.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Remedies. (a) A contract that contains a material violation of subdivision 
1.16 	1, paragraph (b), is voidable by the consumer.
1.17 	(b) A person who commits a material violation of subdivision 1, paragraph (b), is 
1.18 	liable to the consumer for:
1.19 	(1) actual, incidental, and consequential damages;
1.20 	(2) statutory damages of $500; and
1.21 	(3) reasonable attorney fees, costs, and disbursements.
1.22 	(c) A person who knowingly commits a material violation of subdivision 1, 
1.23 	paragraph (b), is liable to the consumer for treble damages and statutory damages of 
1.24 	$2,500.
2.1 	For the purposes of this subdivision, "person" means an individual, partnership, 
2.2 	corporation, or other business or legal entity.