summary
Introduced
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
In Committee
03/18/2025
03/18/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
26th Council
Bill Summary
A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA To amend Chapter 39 of Title 28 of the District of Columbia Official Code to clarify the application of the Consumer Protection Procedures Act and provide enhanced remedies to secure compliance, to authorize fines, costs, and fees for failure to fully comply with an investigative subpoena, to clarify that that Federal Trade Commission precedents should be interpreted in a manner most favorable to consumers, to grant additional consumer protection enforcement authority to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, to clarify that unlawful and abusive trade practices are prohibited, to clarify complaint procedures, to prohibit retaliation for consumer complaints and aiding and abetting prohibited trade practices, to expressly authorize asset freezes as injunctive relief, to set mandatory minimum penalties for violations and recovery of costs and fees for enforcement and investigative actions in Attorney General actions, to require confidentiality agreements and protective orders entered into by the Attorney General to permit sharing confidential documents with law enforcement agencies abiding by the agreement or protective order, to authorize the use of interrogatories in investigations, to specify that service may be made by any method reasonably calculated to give actual notice, to allow use of sworn investigative statements for perjury prosecutions, and to allow the Mayor to issue rules concerning the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Attorney General to issue any other rules necessary to carry out the chapter; to amend the Attorney General for the District of Columbia Clarification and Elected Term Amendment Act of 2010 to authorize the use of interrogatories in investigations; and to amend the Criminal Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults Act of 2000 to clarify that injunctive relief may include affirmative action.
AI Summary
This bill enhances consumer protection procedures in the District of Columbia by making several significant amendments to existing consumer protection laws. The bill expands the definition of "consumer" and "merchant" to include a broader range of transactions, including charitable donations, and clarifies that unfair, deceptive, and abusive trade practices are prohibited regardless of whether consumers are actually misled or damaged. It grants additional enforcement powers to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and the Attorney General, including the ability to issue cease and desist orders, summarily suspend business licenses, and conduct more comprehensive investigations using subpoenas and interrogatories. The bill also increases potential penalties for violations, allowing for treble damages up to $3,000 per violation (adjusted for inflation), reasonable attorney's fees, and the possibility of injunctions and punitive damages. Furthermore, the legislation strengthens protections against retaliation for filing consumer complaints, requires merchants to provide clear contract terms, and allows the Attorney General to share confidential documents with other law enforcement agencies while maintaining confidentiality restrictions. The bill aims to create a more robust framework for consumer protection by deterring unfair trade practices and providing more effective mechanisms for addressing consumer grievances.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Referred to Committee on Public Works and Operations (on 03/18/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
Document Type | Source Location |
---|---|
State Bill Page | https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0174 |
BillText | https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57339/Introduction/B26-0174-Introduction.pdf |
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