Bill Text: NJ A2068 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prohibits person experiencing coin shortage from charging consumers higher price for cash payment.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee [A2068 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-A2068-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 2068

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ELIANA PINTOR MARIN

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman  ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits person experiencing coin shortage from charging consumers higher price for cash payment.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning payments by consumers and supplementing P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  A person experiencing a coin shortage and selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall not charge a higher price to a buyer who elects to use cash as payment in order to purchase the goods or services.

     b.    A violation of this section is an unlawful practice under P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

     c.     As used in this section, "at retail" shall include any retail transaction conducted in person and exclude any telephone, mail, or Internet-based transaction.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following the date of enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill prohibits a person experiencing a coin shortage and selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail from charging a higher price to a buyer who elects to use cash as payment in order to purchase the goods or services.  A violation of the bill is to be an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act.  Under that act, an unlawful practice is punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense.  Additionally, violations can result in cease and desist orders issued by the Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of treble damages and costs to the injured party.