Act No. 136 (H.730). Consumer protection

An act relating to miscellaneous consumer protection laws

This act adds multiple consumer protection provisions.

Secs. 1, 1a, and 1b provide for the relocation of certain provisions and the redesignation of the consumer fraud act as the consumer protection act.

Sec. 2 creates new disclosure and recordkeeping requirements for businesses that offer charitable sales promotions (cause-related marketing).

Sec. 3 amends current law concerning the credit billing for certain home solicitation services, addressing from whom and in what time frame a consumer may recover for certain charges to his or her credit card.

Secs. 4-5 address lead in food, vitamins, and supplements, including findings about the danger of lead for children and a modification to the definition of "children's product" to allow the attorney general to enforce through his or her consumer protection authority lead contamination in products that children may ingest.

Sec. 6 addresses the rights and duties of senders and recipients of unsolicited goods and services.

Sec. 7 addresses the requirements for the offer, use, and validity of gift certificates.

Sec. 8 adopts new consumer protection provisions addressing unlicensed Internet lending.

Secs. 9-11 authorize and provide requirements for a new line of insurance, portable electronics insurance.

Sec. 12 requires the attorney general to study and propose consumer protections for older Vermont consumers.

Sec. 13 amends language governing the timing of when heating suppliers may be paid for fuel sold through the low income heating assistance program, and directs the public service board to create a new requirement for Vermont gas utilities to offer a low income discount heating program.

Sec. 13a requires the department of public safety and others to evaluate requiring residential sprinkler systems and how to recover costs thereof.

Multiple effective dates, beginning May 18, 2012