Here's a press release from the Minnesota Association for Justice:
Minnesota consumers made numerous gains during the 2007 Legislative Session as lawmakers took steps to improve their quality of life. Minnesota Association for Justice President Chris Messerly said that Minnesota is a pro-consumer state because individuals, organizations, and lawmakers are committed to preserving the rights and safety of the citizens of our state.
“Minnesotans have a strong sense of fairness and accountability,” Messerly said. “Our lawmakers are willing to take a stand and make a wrong situation right.”
Consumer legislation passed this session includes:
- Restricting lead in jewelry -- A law that goes into effect on Sept. 1 restricts the manufacturing and sale of jewelry that contains lead. This includes body piercing jewelry. Minnesota’s new law uses federal guidelines regarding safe levels of lead content. The new law also includes tighter restrictions for jewelry intended for children younger than six. The bill’s House author said that the bill originated after several incidents of children swallowing jewelry containing lead.
- Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights -- Minnesota consumers will now have better information and protection when buying a car. Under the new law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2008, dealers will have to inform customers about how much each add-on will cost and how it will impact monthly loan payments. Dealers will now need to provide installment payment information with and without certain option packages, such as motor vehicle services contracts and surface protection products. The buyer must provide a signature to confirm that he or she received this information.
The new law also creates a definition for “certified” motor vehicle. A vehicle cannot be certified if: the dealer knows the odometer does not indicate actual miles; the vehicle has been in a flood; the dealer fails to provide a completed inspection report to the buyer; or the title states “damage,” “junk,” “lemon law buyback,” “rebuilt,” or “salvage.”
- Full value gift cards -- It will now be unlawful for a business to sell a gift card with an expiration date or a service fee in Minnesota. Consumers will now be entitled to the face value of gift cards sold on or after Aug. 1, 2007.
Exempted under the law are cards that are: distributed for loyalty or promotion and no money has been exchanged: distributed for employee recognition; sold under value for fundraisers; pre-paid calling cards; debit cards used to access a debit account; and cards that are for numerous stores, such as a card for a mall, if the expiration date and fees are fully disclosed.
- Credit, debt card protection Under a law that takes effect Aug. 1, 2007, retailers cannot hold onto an access code that permits a credit card to be used for more than 48 hours. Effective Aug. 1, 2008, a business that fails to abide by the law will be liable to a financial institution for costs resulting from the security breach and the cost of any reasonable action it takes to protect itself or its customers. This includes credit card cancellations, account closure, or refunds to the cardholders to cover any unauthorized transactions.
- Parental consent for piercing Excluding an earlobe, anyone younger than 18 must have parental or legal guardian permission to get a body part pierced. Those providing the piercing service must witness the parent or legal guardian signing and dating the consent.
“Being pro-consumer in Minnesota does not mean being ‘anti-business,’” Messerly said. “The new laws are all easy efforts business can make to ensure Minnesota consumers get what they pay for and are treated fairly.
”One pro-consumer piece of legislation that was not approved this year is the Good Faith bill. All the Good Faith bill requires is that insurance companies treat Minnesotans with good faith and fair dealing. If consumers pay premiums for a $10,000 policy and the value of their loss is $10,000, they should get that $10,000. If the insurance company is only going to give them $5,000 then they should only pay premiums on a $5,000 policy.
“While it’s disappointing that the Good Faith bill was not passed by the Legislature this session, consumers made a great deal of progress,” Messerly said. “The Minnesota Association for Justice is committed to consumers and will work again in 2008 for Minnesota to join the 46 other states that have some form of Good Faith law on the books.”
Readers, what do you think?