Bill Text: CA SB1485 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Bill 1485

Introduced

Bill Title: Consumer complaints.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-29 - Referred to Com. on RLS. [SB1485 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB1485-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1485

Introduced by Senator Gonzalez

February 16, 2024

An act to amend Section 326 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to consumer complaints.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1485, as introduced, Gonzalez. Consumer complaints.

The Consumer Affairs Act requires the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs to administer and enforce that act to protect and promote the interests of consumers regarding the purchase of goods or services. The director, upon receipt of a consumer complaint relating to specified violations, is required to transmit any valid complaint to the local, state, or federal agency whose authority provides the most effective means to secure the relief. The act requires the director to advise the consumer of the action taken on the complaint, as appropriate, and of any other means that may be available to the consumer to secure relief.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those consumer complaint provisions.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 326 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

326.

(a) Upon receipt of ~~any~~ a complaint pursuant to Section 325, the director may notify the person against whom the complaint is made of the nature of the complaint and may request appropriate relief for the consumer.

(b) (1) The director shall also transmit any valid complaint to the local, ~~state~~ state, or federal agency whose authority provides the most effective means to secure the relief.

~~The~~

(2) The director shall, if appropriate, advise the consumer of the action taken on the complaint and of any other means ~~which~~ that may be available to the consumer to secure relief.

(c) If the director receives a complaint or receives information from any source indicating a probable violation of any law, rule, or order of any regulatory agency of the state, or if a pattern of complaints from consumers develops, the director shall transmit any complaint ~~he or she~~ the director considers to be valid to any appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agency and any evidence or information ~~he or she~~ the director may have concerning the probable violation or pattern of complaints or request the Attorney General to undertake appropriate legal action. It shall be the continuing duty of the director to discern patterns of complaints and to ascertain the nature and extent of action taken with respect to the probable violations or pattern of complaints.