10/24/05-A bill in the House Consumer Affairs Committee would permit the state’s attorney general to investigate complaints of price gouging during disasters and impose penalties.
Senators voted by unanimous consent last month to forward the bill to the House for further consideration. The House panel is scheduled to take up the bill Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White, R-Franklin, the bill would prohibit “unconscionably excessive” pricing of such products as gasoline and diesel fuel during a declared state of emergency. It would expire 30 days after the declaration.
SB450 would presume a vendor was price gouging if they could not explain a price increase of 20 percent or more over the average price for the same goods or services available in the affected area one week before an emergency was declared.
Anyone found in violation would face up to a $10,000 fine, per occurrence. Existing law limits fines to $1,000.
The rule would not apply to price increases caused by additional expenses, such as replacement costs, taxes and transportation.
For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.

9/26/05-The Senate voted unanimously Sept. 21 to advance an effort to permit the state’s Attorney General to investigate complaints of price gouging during disasters and impose penalties.
Sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White, R-Franklin, SB450 would prohibit “unconscionably excessive” pricing of such products as gasoline and diesel fuel during a declared state of emergency. It would expire 30 days after the declaration.
The bill would presume a vendor was price gouging if they could not attribute a price increase of 20 percent or more over the average price for the same goods or services available in the affected area one week before an emergency was declared.
Anyone found in violation would face up to a $10,000 fine, per occurrence. Existing law limits fines to $1,000.
The rule would not apply to price increases caused by additional expenses, such as replacement costs, taxes and transportation.
The bill has been sent to the House for further consideration. For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.