SENATE, No. 3000

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 11, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO

District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Concerns disclosure requirements for certain propane sales.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the sale of propane and supplementing Title 56 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  A retail dealer that sells or offers to sell propane on its premises in tanks or cylinders with a capacity of not more than 50 gallons shall: (1) disclose on a sign of a type and size specified by the director at the point of display the price per pound or unit, or amount sold, of such propane and the total price for a full tank or cylinder; and (2) provide a customer, at the time of sale, with a receipt written in a clear and conspicuous manner that contains the name and address of the dealer, the total number of pounds or units sold, the price per pound or unit sold, and the amount of the total charge.  No retail dealer shall bill or otherwise attempt to collect from any customer of propane an amount that exceeds the unit price multiplied by the total number of pounds or units stated on the receipt.

     b.    A retail dealer who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a penalty of $100 for the first offense, and not less than $250 or more than $500 for the second or any subsequent offense, to be sued for and recovered in a civil action in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

 

     2.    The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, in the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides that a retail dealer that sells or offers to sell propane on its premises in tanks or cylinders with a capacity of not more than 50 gallons shall: (1) disclose on a sign of a type and size specified by the director at the point of display the price per pound or unit, or amount sold of such propane and the total price for a full tank or cylinder; and (2) provide a customer, at the time of sale, with a receipt written in a clear and conspicuous manner that contains the name and address of the dealer, the total number of pounds or units sold, the price per pound or unit sold, and the amount of the total charge.  The bill further stipulates that no retail dealer will bill or otherwise attempt to collect from any customer of propane an amount that exceeds the unit price multiplied by the total number of pounds or units stated on the receipt.

     A retail dealer who violates the provisions of this bill will be subject to a penalty of $100 for the first offense, and not less than $250 or more than $500 for the second or any subsequent offense, to be sued for and recovered in a civil action in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).