Creates a new chapter to protect Rhode Island consumers from coercive tactics at grocery stores.
Impact
Upon passage, H5552 would amend existing commercial law in Rhode Island to establish clear guidelines against unfair pricing tactics. This includes provisions that make it unlawful for suppliers to discriminate between retailers in terms of prices and sales conditions. The legislation empowers the Rhode Island Attorney General to enforce these new rules, allowing for civil penalties and legal action against violators. The intended outcome is to promote a more equitable marketplace, benefitting consumers and smaller retailers while ensuring compliance among larger grocery chains.
Summary
House Bill 5552, also known as the Price Tags Act, introduces measures aimed at protecting Rhode Island consumers from coercive economic tactics employed by grocery stores. The bill seeks to ensure fair pricing practices by requiring suppliers to extend the same terms of sale for grocery items to all retailers, not just those that dominate the market. This legislation is particularly significant as it attempts to level the playing field in a market where large retailers may exert undue influence over suppliers, potentially disadvantaging smaller competitors and consumers alike.
Contention
Debate surrounding H5552 may arise regarding the balance between regulating large retailers and ensuring market viability. Proponents argue that the bill is crucial for consumer rights and preventing monopolistic practices, ensuring that local grocery stores can compete fairly. However, critics may contend that excessive regulation could harm business operations and reduce the variety of goods available to consumers, ultimately impacting pricing competitiveness. Furthermore, defining and enforcing terms of 'coercive tactics' may pose challenges in practical application, which could lead to legal disputes and confusion among retailers and suppliers.
Requires grocery stores to specifically limit the number of self-service checkout units to six (6) units per location. The consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general would have authority to enforce these restrictions.
Requires grocery stores to specifically limit the number of self-service checkout units to six (6) units per location. The consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general would have authority to enforce these restrictions.
Liquor: other; leasing, selling, and transferring portions of certain alternating proprietors under approval of commission; allow. Amends secs. 105 & 603 of 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1105 & 436.1603).
Liquor: other; leasing, selling, and transferring portions of certain alternating proprietors under approval of commission; allow. Amends secs. 105 & 603 of 1998 PA 58 (MCL 436.1105 & 436.1603).
Relating to alcoholic beverages; to amend Sections 28-3-1, 28-3A-3, 28-3A-21, and 28-3A-23, Code of Alabama 1975 and add Sections 28-3-208, 28-3A-9.1, and 28-3A-17.2 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to define a new category of low-alcohol content liquor beverages called mixed spirit beverages; to require all mixed spirit beverages, other than those distributed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, to be distributed through a licensed wholesaler; to levy taxes upon the distribution of these beverages; to provide for licensure of retailers of mixed spirit beverages and set a fee for licensure; to add Chapter 8B to Title 28 of the Code of Alabama 1975; to require licensed importers, manufacturers, and suppliers of mixed spirit beverages to enter into exclusive franchise agreements with wholesalers; to exempt from the wholesaler franchise laws mixed spirit beverages distributed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and sold at retail at ABC stores; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.