AB169-ASA1,7,22 19(6) Trial delivery sales plans; rejections and returns. (a) A seller shall allow
20the consumer at least 10 days after the consumer receives a trial delivery to initiate
21the rejection or return of that trial delivery or to avoid receiving the next trial
22delivery.
AB169-ASA1,7,2523 (b) A seller may not represent that the consumer may return a trial delivery
24at the seller's expense unless the seller includes with the trial delivery a prepaid
25return mailer that includes all of the following:
AB169-ASA1,8,2
11. The address to which the consumer shall return the goods or services under
2the trial delivery.
AB169-ASA1,8,43 2. Adequate prepayment of any postage, shipping, handling, repackaging or
4other costs that are necessary to accomplish the return of the trial delivery.
AB169-ASA1,8,75 3. Clear and conspicuous instructions on how the consumer may use the
6prepaid return mailer to accomplish the return of the goods or services included in
7a trial delivery.
AB169-ASA1,8,8 8(7) Prohibitions. No seller may do any of the following:
AB169-ASA1,8,99 (a) Misrepresent the terms of a trial delivery sales plan.
AB169-ASA1,8,1110 (b) Misrepresent to any consumer that the consumer has agreed to a trial
11delivery sales plan.
AB169-ASA1,8,1312 (c) Make any false, deceptive or misleading representation in the solicitation
13or implementation of a trial delivery sales plan.
AB169-ASA1,8,1514 (d) Make any trial delivery, or bill any consumer for a trial delivery, contrary
15to the terms of the trial delivery sales plan.
AB169-ASA1,8,1716 (e) Initiate a trial delivery under a trial delivery sales plan that is no longer in
17effect.
AB169-ASA1, s. 3 18Section 3. 100.197 of the statutes is created to read:
AB169-ASA1,8,19 19100.197 Lawn care service contracts. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB169-ASA1,8,2120 (a) "Consumer" means an individual to whom a provider sells or leases, or offers
21to sell or lease, lawn care services.
AB169-ASA1,8,2222 (b) "In writing" has the meaning given in s. 100.196 (1) (f).
AB169-ASA1,8,2423 (c) "Lawn care services" means any of the following services provided in or
24around a consumer's personal residence for nonagricultural purposes:
AB169-ASA1,9,2
11. Application of a fertilizer, a pesticide or a soil or plant additive intended to
2promote plant growth or health.
AB169-ASA1,9,33 2. A plant mowing or trimming service.
AB169-ASA1,9,54 (d) "Provider" means a person who sells or leases, or offers to sell or lease, lawn
5care services to consumers.
AB169-ASA1,9,76 (e) "Written disclosure" means a clear and conspicuous statement in writing
7that is designed to be readily noticed and understood by the consumer.
AB169-ASA1,9,11 8(2) Continuing contract; required terms; annual disclosure. (a) No contract
9for lawn care services may be in effect for more than one year unless, in the 2nd and
10any subsequent year, the provider makes a written disclosure at least 30 days before
11providing lawn care services under the contract in that year.
AB169-ASA1,9,1312 (b) A written disclosure under this subsection shall include all of the following
13information:
AB169-ASA1,9,1514 1. The lawn care services included in the contract, and the price and frequency
15of those lawn care services.
AB169-ASA1,9,1616 2. The right of the consumer to cancel the contract as provided in par. (c).
AB169-ASA1,9,2017 (c) A contract for lawn care services that may be in effect for more than one year
18shall allow the consumer the right to cancel the contract, at no cost to the consumer,
19if the consumer cancels within 30 days after receiving a written disclosure from the
20provider.
AB169-ASA1, s. 4 21Section 4. 100.198 of the statutes is created to read:
AB169-ASA1,9,24 22100.198 Unfair billing; trial deliveries; lawn care services; penalties
23and remedies.
(1) Investigation. The department may exercise its authority
24under ss. 93.14 and 93.15 to investigate violations of s. 100.195, 100.196 or 100.197.
AB169-ASA1,10,5
1(2) Civil actions by private persons. Any person suffering pecuniary loss
2because of a violation of s. 100.195, 100.196 or 100.197 may commence an action for
3the pecuniary loss and if the person prevails, the person shall recover twice the
4amount of the pecuniary loss or $200 for each violation, whichever is greater,
5together with costs, including reasonable attorney fees.
AB169-ASA1,10,10 6(3) Injunction and restitution. The department may commence an action in
7the name of the state to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction a violation
8of s. 100.195, 100.196 or 100.197. Before entry of final judgment, the court may make
9any necessary orders to restore to any person any pecuniary loss suffered by the
10person because of the violation.
AB169-ASA1,10,13 11(4) Civil forfeiture. The department or any district attorney may commence
12an action in the name of the state to recover a forfeiture to the state of not less than
13$100 nor more than $10,000 for each violation of s. 100.195, 100.196 or 100.197.
AB169-ASA1,10,16 14(5) Criminal penalties. A person who violates s. 100.195, 100.196 or 100.197
15is subject to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $5,000 or imprisonment not to
16exceed one year or both for each violation.
AB169-ASA1,10,21 17(6) Additional remedies. Sections 100.195, 100.196 and 100.197 do not
18preempt the administration or enforcement of s. 100.18 or 100.20. Practices in
19violation of s. 100.195, 100.196 or 100.197 may also constitute unfair methods of
20competition or unfair trade practices under s. 100.20 or fraudulent representations
21under s. 100.18.
AB169-ASA1, s. 5 22Section 5. 165.25 (4) (ar) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169-ASA1,11,323 165.25 (4) (ar) The department of justice shall furnish all legal services
24required by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection relating
25to the enforcement of ss. 100.18, 100.182, 100.195, 100.196, 100.197, 100.20, 100.205,

1100.207, 100.21, 100.28, 100.50, 134.22, 134.42, 134.68, 134.70, 134.74, 134.83 and
2134.85 and chs. 136, 344, 704, 707 and 779, together with any other services as are
3necessarily connected to the legal services.
AB169-ASA1, s. 6 4Section 6. 814.04 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB169-ASA1,11,8 5814.04 Items of costs. (intro.) Except as provided in ss. 93.20, 100.198 (2),
6106.04 (6) (i) and (6m) (a), 769.313, 814.025, 814.245, 895.035 (4), 895.75 (3), 895.77
7(2), 895.79 (3), 895.80 (3), 943.212 (2) (b), 943.245 (2) (d) and 943.51 (2) (b), when
8allowed costs shall be as follows:
AB169-ASA1, s. 7 9Section 7. Initial applicability.
AB169-ASA1,11,1110 (1) Unfair billing. The treatment of section 100.195 of the statutes first applies
11to violations committed on the effective date of this subsection.
AB169-ASA1,11,1412 (2) Trial delivery sales plans. The treatment of section 100.196 of the statutes
13first applies to trial delivery sales plans entered into on the effective date of this
14subsection.
AB169-ASA1,11,1615 (3) Lawn care service contracts. The treatment of section 100.197 of the
16statutes first applies to contracts entered into on the effective date of this subsection.
AB169-ASA1, s. 8 17Section 8. Effective date.
AB169-ASA1,11,1918 (1) This act takes effect on first day of the 10th month beginning after
19publication.
Loading...
Loading...