State by State continued from page 13 .
that occurs when there has been no emergency declaration . Maroney said the legislation was inspired by feedback senators heard from Connecticut residents while meeting with constituents during last year ’ s campaign season .
“ So many times you ’ re hearing stories of the struggles that people are having , especially the senior citizens who are on fixed income where they ’ re choosing whether or not they ’ re going to pay for their groceries or their medicine or families who are struggling to put food on the table . What the price gouging statute will do is empower the attorney general to go up the supply chain . Often , it ’ s not the grocery store ,” Maroney said . “ We ’ ll also expand the times when this will be in effect . Not just a declared national emergency .”
The legislation will allow the attorney general to issue notices of abnormal economic disruption , Maroney said . These notices would apply to significant interferences in the production , distribution , supply , sale or availability of necessary consumer goods like diapers , baby formula , or prescription medications . The bill includes other new consumer protection measures , like a disclosure requirement to address “ shrinkflation ,” a practice used by manufacturers to reduce a product ’ s contents without changing its packaging size or price , as well as new disclosure requirements meant to ensure that Connecticut residents are not caught off guard by junk fees .
Duff said , “ I want to make sure that we are using all tools necessary , especially as we enter this new administration , that we use our voices , we use our bully pulpits , we use our power of changing laws ,” he said . “ We ’ re here to change things for the positive for the people to represent .”
Looney , Duff and Maroney intend to expand the state ’ s profiteering laws so that the Attorney General may have more flexibility to go after “ gougers ,” the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association reported in its Jan . 23 newsletter , CEMA Pipeline .
“ Senate Bill 3 will include language that increases the ability of [ the ] AG to go after alleged price gouging by allowing him to go up the supply chain to wholesale suppliers and to expand when he can use his powers to investigate prices ,” CEMA reported . Currently , the AG can only investigate prices when the governor or the president of the United States declares an emergency , the Association noted .
“ If the bill passes , the AG will be allowed to declare an ‘ abnormal economic disruption ’ providing him with the power to investigate gouging from the retail level and all the way through the entire supply chain ,” according to the CEMA newsletter . The trade group said , “ We have defeated the AG ’ s [ anti-gouging ] proposals over the last four years when he attempted to add undefined language to the law that would allow him to prosecute gouging when he determines that prices are ‘ unconscionably excessive ’ or when there is a ‘ gross disparity ’ in pricing . This bill will likely bring back that language while adding his authority to expand who he can investigate when he determines it ’ s appropriate .”
CEMA said it met with the General Law Committee leadership to voice concerns about a bill “ allowing the AG to be the judge and jury .” The trade group also noted that the bill would affect all businesses – not just the energy industry .” The group said it is awaiting publication of the bill in its final form and will then report further to members .
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UST INDEMNIFICATION FUND IN PENNSYLVANIA
At its December meeting , the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund Board voted to approve revised eligibility regulations , reported the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association ’ s newsletter , PPA Express . Here is the news , reprinted from the PPA Express :
[ The ] regulations were published in the January 18 issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin . The PPA has a Governor-appointed seat on the USTIF Board and is supportive of the rule change .
The proposed regulation change is necessary to clarify the eligibility requirements
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