AB863: Bill Text

LRB-0870/1

MES&MGG:kmg:lp

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 863

March 8, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Black, Miller, Hebl, Richards, Ryba, Boyle, J. Lehman, Williams and Sinicki. Referred to Committee on Information Policy.

AB863,1,2 An Act to create 100.209 (2) (f) of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting certain billing practices by cable television companies.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, a cable television service operator may not include a late fee in a customer's bill unless the service period to which the bill relates has begun and unless the operator mails the bill to the customer at least 30 days before the late fee goes into effect. Also under the bill, a late fee may not be greater than $2.50 per month.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB863, s. 1 Section 1. 100.209 (2) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB863,1,6 100.209 (2) (f) 1. A cable operator may not impose on a subscriber a late payment charge or an administrative fee for late payment unless all of the following apply:

AB863,1,7 a. The service period to which the bill relates has begun.

AB863,2,2 b. The cable operator mails the bill to the subscriber at least 30 days before the late charge or fee is imposed.

AB863,2,5 2. No late payment charge or administrative fee for late payment that may be imposed under subd. 1. may be greater than $2.50 for each service for which the charge or fee may be imposed.

AB863, s. 2 Section 2. Initial applicability.

AB863,2,8 (1) This act first applies to a bill for cable service that is sent to a subscriber on the first day of the 3rd month beginning after the effective date of this subsection.

AB863,2,9 (End)