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By Mr. Keenan of Salem, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 167) of John D. Keenan and others relative to rebate reform and consumer protection. Community Development and Small Business. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
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By Mr. Keenan of Salem, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 167) of John D. Keenan and others relative to rebate reform and consumer protection. Community Development and Small Business. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
David Paul Linsky
Christopher N. Speranzo
Harriett L. Stanley
Anthony J. Verga
Patricia D. Jehlen
Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.
Kay Khan
Jennifer M. Callahan
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 93A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following subsections:
(e) “Net price of an advertised item” means the price of an item after a rebate has been deducted from the item’s price.
(f) “Rebate” means the return of a payment or a partial payment, which serves as a discount or reduction in price.
SECTION 2. Subsection 2(c) of chapter 93A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the phrase “provisions of subsection 2(a)” the following: “and subsection 2(d)”.
SECTION 3. Section 2 of chapter 93A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following subsection:
(d) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce shall include advertising for sale at a retail establishment the availability of a manufacturer’s rebate by displaying the net price of the advertised item in the advertisement, unless the amount of the manufacturer’s rebate is provided to the consumer by the retailer at the time of the purchase of said advertised item. It shall be the retailer’s burden to redeem the rebate offered to the consumer by the manufacturer. Unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce shall likewise include refusing to accept a photocopy or other reasonable facsimile of an original sales receipt when a consumer is redeeming a rebate.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect immediately.