Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ELIANA PINTOR MARIN
District 29 (Essex)
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
As introduced.
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.