,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #ddce  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #bc1 #bjbd,mr4    
,book] 7= himself & ,ms4 ,w>r57         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to limit & elim9ate excessive1
 hidd51 & unnecess>y fees impos$ on     
inc>c]at$ individuals & _! families1 & =
 o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is    
,act may be cit$ z ! ,families ,ov]     
,fees ,act ( #bjbd4  #b4 ,protect+      
,consum]s ,aga9/ ,excessive & ,hidd5    
,fees  7a7 ,9 g5]al  7#a7 ,hidd5 fees ,a
 cov]$ entity %all cle>ly & conspicu\sly
 display ! total price 7inclusive ( any 
m&atory fees7 ( any good or s]vice      
provid$ by ! cov]$ entity-- 7,a7 9 ea*  
adv]tisem5t = ! good or s]vice to a     
consum]2 or  7,b7 :5ev] pres5t+ ! price 
( su* good or s]vice to a consum]4  7#b7
 ,excessive fees  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a cov]$
 entity may n adv]tise or *>ge to a     
consum] any m&atory fees t are excessive

 ) respect to any good or s]vice provid$
 by ! cov]$ entity4  7,b7 ,consid]ations
 ,9 det]m9+ :e!r a m&atory fee adv]tis$ 
by or *>g$ to a consum] by a cov]$      
entity is excessive1 ! ,commission %all 
consid]-- 7i7 :e!r ! fee is reasonable &
 proportional to ! co/ ( ! good or      
s]vice provid$ by ! cov]$ entity2  7ii7 
! reason = :i* ! cov]$ entity *>ges su* 
fee2  7iii7 ! co/ ( a simil> good or    
s]vice provid$ to individuals :o are n  
inc>c]at$2 &  7iv7 ! degree ( available 
consum] *oice = ! good or s]vice1       
includ+ :e!r !re are viable alt]natives 
available t provide ! consum] ) !       
opportunity to avoid an excessive fee4  
7#c7 ,e>ly t]m9ation ,a cov]$ entity may
 n adv]tise or *>ge to a consum] any    
m&atory fees t are excessive = ! e>ly   
t]m9ation ( a contract = any good or    
s]vice provid$ by ! cov]$ entity4  7#d7 
,refunds ,a cov]$ entity %all-- 7,a7    
cle>ly & conspicu\sly disclose any      
gu>antee or refund policy prior to !    
completion ( a transaction by a consum]2

 &  7,b7 9 ! ev5t ( a reque/ by a       
consum] = a refund1 provide to ! consum]
 a refund 9 ! am\nt ( ! total co/       
7includ+ any m&atory fees7 ( ! good or  
s]vice provid$ by ! cov]$ entity or any 
good or s]vice t is undeliv]$ or        
defective4  7#e7 ,rule ( con/ruction    
,no?+ 9 ?is subsection %all apply to    
any-- 7,a7 tax1 duty1 or cu/om levi$ by 
any local1 ,/ate1 ,f$]al1 or o!r        
gov]nm5tal entity2 or  7,b7 fee cov]+ ! 
co/ ( deliv]y ( goods1 ! am\nt ( :i* is 
bas$ ^u ! deliv]y me?od select$ by !    
consum]1 s long z ! cov]$ entity        
discloses ! am\nt ( ! deliv]y fee prior 
to accept+ paym5t f ! consum]4  7b7     
,en=cem5t  7#a7 ,en=cem5t by !          
,commission  7,a7 ,unfair or deceptive  
acts or practices ,a violation ( ?is    
section or a regulation promulgat$      
!reund] %all be treat$ z a violation ( a
 rule def9+ an unfair or deceptive act  
or practice "u section #ah7;a77#a77;,b7 
( ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae 
,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7a77#a77;,b774  7,b7     

,p[]s ( ! ,commission  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,!  
,commission %all en=ce ?is section 9 !  
same mann]1 by ! same means1 & ) ! same 
jurisdiction1 p[]s1 & duties z ?\gh all 
applicable t]ms & provisions ( ! ,f$]al 
,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4  
#da et seq47 7 incorporat$ into & made a
 "p ( ?is section4  7ii7 ,privileges &  
immunities ,any p]son :o violates ?is   
section or a regulation promulgat$      
!reund] %all be subject to ! p5alties & 
entitl$ to ! privileges & immunities    
provid$ 9 ! ,f$]al ,trade ,commission   
,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #da et seq474  7iii7
 ,au?ority pres]v$ ,no?+ 9 ?is section  
%all be con/ru$ to limit ! au?ority ( ! 
,commission "u any o!r provision ( law4 
7iv7 ,rulemak+ ,! ,commission may       
promulgate 9 accordance ) section #eec (
 title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 su*     
rules z may be necess>y to c>ry out ?is 
section4  7,c7 ,notice to ,/ates ,:5ev] 
! ,commission has br\ght an action = a  
violation ( ?is ,act & has reason to    
believe t ! attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate1   

,t]ritory1 or ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia    
w\ld be entitl$ to br+ an action "u ?is 
,act bas$ sub/antially on ! same alleg$ 
violation1 ! ,commission %all promptly  
give writt5 notification !re( to su*    
attorney g5]al4  7#b7 ,en=cem5t by !    
,/ates  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,if ! attorney    
g5]al ( a ,/ate has reason to believe t 
a cov]$ entity has violat$ or is violat+
 ?is section or a regulation promulgat$ 
!reund] t affects ! resid5ts ( t ,/ate1 
! ,/ate1 z p>5s patriae1 may br+ a civil
 action 9 any appropriate di/rict c\rt (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 to-- 7i7 enjo9 any    
fur!r violation by ! cov]$ entity2  7ii7
 en=ce compliance ) ?is section or su*  
regulation2  7iii7 obta9 o!r rem$ies    
p]mitt$ "u ,/ate law2 &  7iv7 obta9     
damages1 re/itution1 or o!r comp5sation 
on behalf ( resid5ts ( ! ,/ate4  7,b7   
,notice ,! attorney g5]al ( a ,/ate %all
 provide prior writt5 notice ( any      
action "u subp>agraph 7,a7 to !         
,commission & provide ! ,commission ) a 
copy ( ! compla9t 9 ! action1 except 9  

any case 9 :i* su* prior notice is n    
feasible1 9 :i* case ! attorney g5]al   
%all s]ve su* notice imm$iately ^u      
in/itut+ su* action4  7,c7 ,int]v5tion  
by ! ,commission ,^u receiv+ notice "u  
subp>agraph 7,b71 ! ,commission %all h !
 "r-- 7i7 to int]v5e 9 ! action2  7ii7  
^u s int]v5+1 to be he>d on all matt]s  
aris+ !re92 &  7iii7 to file petitions =
 appeal4  7,d7 ,limitation on ,/ate     
action :ile ,f$]al action is p5d+ ,if ! 
,commission has in/itut$ a civil action 
= a violation ( ?is section or a        
regulation promulgat$ !reund]1 no ,/ate 
attorney g5]al1 or (ficial or ag5cy ( a 
,/ate1 may br+ a sep>ate action "u      
subp>agraph 7,a7 dur+ ! p5d5cy ( t      
action aga9/ any def5dant nam$ 9 !      
compla9t ( ! ,commission = any violation
 ( ?is section or a regulation          
promulgat$ !reund] t is alleg$ 9 !      
compla9t4  7,e7 ,v5ue2 s]vice ( process 
7i7 ,v5ue ,any action br\ght "u         
subp>agraph 7,a7 may be br\ght 9 !      
di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t meets  

applicable requirem5ts relat+ to v5ue "u
 section #acia ( title #bh1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code4  7ii7 ,s]vice ( process ,9
 an action br\ght "u subp>agraph 7,a71  
process may be s]v$ 9 any di/rict 9 :i* 
! def5dant-- 7,i7 is an inhabitant2 or  
7,,ii7 may be f\nd4  7,f7 ,rule (       
con/ruction ,= purposes ( br++ a civil  
action "u subp>agraph 7,a71 no?+ 9 ?is  
section %all be con/ru$ to prev5t ! *ief
 law en=cem5t (fic] or (ficial or ag5cy 
( a ,/ate1 f ex]cis+ ! p[]s conf]r$ on  
su* *ief law en=cem5t (fic] or (ficial  
or ag5cy ( a ,/ate1 by ! laws ( ! ,/ate 
to conduct inve/igations1 adm9i/] oa?s  
or affirmations1 or compel ! att5dance (
 witnesses or ! production ( docum5t>y &
 o!r evid5ce4  7#c7 ,private "r ( action
  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,an individual :o is    
injur$ by a violation ( ?is ,act or any 
regulation promulgat$ !reund] may br+ a 
civil action 9 a di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates to-- 7i7 obta9 damages1         
re/itution1 or o!r comp5sation2  7ii7   
injunctive or decl>atory relief2  7iii7 

attorney's fees & litigation co/s2 &    
7iv7 any o!r relief ! c\rt deems prop]4 
7,b7 ,v5ue ,9 a civil action br\ght "u  
subp>agraph 7,a71 ! v5ue %all be-- 7i7 a
 ,f$]al judicial di/rict 9 :i* !        
def5dant is f\nd1 is an inhabitant1 or  
transacts bus9ess2 or  7ii7 :]ev] v5ue  
is prop] "u section #acia ( title #bh1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7,c7 ,class       
actions ,an individual entitl$ to br+ an
 action "u ?is p>agraph may br+ su*     
action z a repres5tative or class action
 "u rule #bc ( ! ,f$]al ,rules ( ,civil 
,proc$ure or any o!r provision ( law4   
7,d7 ,/atute ( limitations ,an action = 
a violation ( ?is ,act may be comm5c$ n 
lat] ?an ! lat] ( #d ye>s aft] ! date on
 :i*-- 7i7 ! violation occurs2 or  7ii7 
! violation is discov]$ or %\ld h be5   
discov]$ ?r\gh ex]cise ( reasonable     
dilig5ce4  7,e7 ,no arbitration agreem5t
 or waiv] ,no pre-dispute arbitration   
agreem5t or pre-dispute jo9t-action     
waiv] %all be valid or en=ceable )      
respect to a dispute aris+ "u ?is ,act4 

,any det]m9ation z to ! scope or mann] (
 applicability ( ?is section %all be    
made by a c\rt1 r ?an an arbitrator1 )\t
 reg>d to :e!r su* agreem5t purports to 
delegate su* det]m9ation to an          
arbitrator4  7,f7 ,rule ( con/ruction   
,any rights provid$ "u ?is subsection   
are 9 addition to1 & n 9 lieu (1 any o!r
 rights or rem$ies provid$ by ,/ate or  
,f$]al law4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is     
section3 7#a7 ,commission ,! t]m        
,commission means ! ,f$]al ,trade       
,commission4  7#b7 ,consum] ,! t]m      
consum] means-- 7,a7 an inc>c]at$       
individual :o seeks or acquires1 by     
pur*ase or lease1 any goods or s]vices f
 a cov]$ entity = p]sonal1 family1 or   
h\sehold purposes2 or  7,b7 an          
individual seek+ or acquir+ su* goods or
 s]vices f a cov]$ entity = ! b5efit (  
or 9 relation to an inc>c]at$           
individual4  7#c7 ,correctional facility
 ,! t]m correctional facility means a   
jail1 prison1 immigration det5tion c5t]1
 juv5ile det5tion c5t]1 or o!r facility 

us$ to h\se individuals :o are accus$ (1
 convict$ (1 s5t5c$ =1 or adjudicat$    
del9qu5t =1 violations ( law or ! t]ms &
 conditions ( p>ole1 probation1 pretrial
 release1 or a div]sion>y program4  7#d7
 ,cov]$ entity ,! t]m cov]$ entity means
 an entity t kn[+ly provides goods or   
s]vices1 = comp5sation1 to consum]s )9 a
 correctional facility or 9 connection  
to a consum]'s release f a correctional 
facility4  7#e7 ,good ,! t]m good means 
any w>e1 product1 commodity1 m]*&ise1 or
 article sold or (f]$ = sale 9 or       
affect+ int]/ate comm]ce4  7#f7         
,inc>c]at$ individual ,! t]m inc>c]at$  
individual means an individual h\s$ at a
 correctional facility4  7#g7 ,m&atory  
fee ,! t]m m&atory fee means-- 7,a7 any 
fee or sur*>ge t a consum] is requir$ to
 pay to pur*ase or use a good or s]vice2
 or  7,b7 a fee or sur*>ge t is n       
reasonably avoidable by a consum]4  7#h7
 ,pre-dispute arbitration agreem5t ,!   
t]m pre-dispute arbitration agreem5t    
means an agreem5t to arbitrate a dispute

 t has n yet aris5 at ! "t ( ! mak+ ( ! 
agreem5t4  7#i7 ,pre-dispute jo9t-action
 waiv] ,! t]m pre-dispute jo9t-action   
waiv] means an agreem5t1 :e!r or n "p ( 
a pre-dispute arbitration agreem5t1 t   
w\ld prohibit or waive ! "r ( any or all
 ( ! p>ties to ! agreem5t to p>ticipate 
9 a jo9t1 class1 or collective action 9 
a judicial1 arbitral1 adm9i/rative1 or  
o!r =um1 conc]n+ a dispute t has n yet  
aris5 at ! "t ( ! mak+ ( ! agreem5t4    
7#aj7 ,s]vice  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m     
s]vice means "w or labor b\ght prim>ily 
= p]sonal1 family1 or h\sehold purposes1
 includ+-- 7i7 consum] f9ancial s]vices 
7z def9$ 9 section #ajjb ( ! ,consum]   
,f9ancial ,protection ,act ( #bjaj 7#ab 
,u4,s4,c4 #edha772 &  7ii7 s]vices      
furni%$ 9 connection ) ! sale ( goods 9 
or affect+ int]/ate comm]ce4  7,b7      
,exclusions ,! t]m s]vice %all n        
include3 7i7 any s]vice describ$ 9      
section #bgf7;d7 ( ! ,communications    
,act ( #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #bgf7;d772  
or  7ii7 m>ket-dom9ant products (f]$ by 

! ,unit$ ,/ates ,po/al ,s]vice "u       
sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #cf ( title #ci1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#aa7 ,/ate ,! t]m
 ,/ate means ! #ej ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict ( 
,columbia1 & any t]ritory or possession 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#ab7 ,transaction  
,! t]m transaction means an agreem5t    
betwe5 a consum] & a cov]$ entity1 :e!r 
or n ! agreem5t is a contract en=ceable 
by action1 & includes ! mak+ (1 & !     
p]=mance pursuant to1 su* agreem5t4  7d7
 ,sev]ability ,if any provision ( ?is   
section1 or ! application ( su*         
provision to any p]son or circum/ance1  
is held to be uncon/itutional1 ! rema9d]
 ( ?is section1 & ! application ( !     
provisions ( su* section to any p]son or
 circum/ance1 %all n be affect$4