6/20/06-A bill that was intended to protect consumers from being gouged at the fuel pump has died.
Sponsored by Sen. Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans, SB502 remained in the House Criminal Justice Committee when the session ended June 19, effectively killing it for the year. The Senate previously approved the bill by unanimous consent.
Louisiana currently imposes civil fines on merchants who overcharge for goods and services, including fuel, during or in the wake of a declared emergency.
The bill would have criminalized price gouging and made it punishable by up to two years in jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine. Those who simply attempt to gouge customers could have been fined as much as $500 and/or spent as much as six months in jail.
Merchants would have been permitted to increase prices if the mark up is consistent with similar goods and services outside the state. They would also have been allowed to cover the cost of getting items in preparation for or after a disaster.
Merchants would not have been able to charge a price that “grossly exceeds the prices ordinarily charged for comparable goods and services” during or before the disaster.
The rule would have taken effect during an emergency declared by the governor or a local official. It also would have taken effect when a named tropical storm or hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico.

5/25/06-The Senate has unanimously approved a bill that is intended to protect consumers from being gouged at the fuel pump. It now heads to the House for further consideration.
Louisiana currently imposes civil fines on merchants who overcharge for goods and services, including fuel, during or in the wake of a declared emergency.
Sponsored by Sen. Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans, SB502 would criminalize price gouging and make it punishable by up to two years in jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine. Those who attempt to gouge customers could be fined as much as $500 and/or spend as much as six months in jail.
Merchants would be permitted to increase prices if the mark up is consistent with similar goods and services outside the state. They would also be allowed to cover the cost of getting items in preparation for or after a disaster.
Merchants would not be able to charge a price that “grossly exceeds the prices ordinarily charged for comparable goods and services” during or before the disaster.
The rule would take effect during an emergency declared by the governor or a local official. It also would take effect when a named tropical storm or hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico.
The bill is in the House Criminal Justice Committee.
For bill status, call (225) 342-2456. In Louisiana, call 1-800-256-3793.