AB915: Bill Text

LRB-2209/1

CTS:jld:jf

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 915

January 17, 2006 - Introduced by Representative Schneider. Referred to Committee on Small Business.

AB915,1,2 An Act to create 100.54 of the statutes; relating to: the sale of printing devices with starter toner cartridges.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill regulates the sale of a computer printer, photocopier, or similar device (printing device) with a starter toner cartridge, which is defined in the bill as a toner cartridge that is intended for use with a printing device and that has a printing capacity substantially less than the capacity of the highest-capacity cartridge specified by the manufacturer of the printing device for use with the printing device.

The bill prohibits the sale of a new printing device with a starter toner cartridge unless the packaging of the printing device clearly and conspicuously discloses the capacity of the starter cartridge and the capacity of the highest-capacity cartridge specified by the manufacturer for use with the printing device.

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

AB915, s. 1 Section 1. 100.54 of the statutes is created to read:

AB915,1,4 100.54 Sale of printing devices. (1) In this section:

AB915,1,6 (a) "Capacity" means the estimated number of printed pages that a toner cartridge will produce under ordinary use.

AB915,2,2 (b) "Printing device" means a computer printer, photocopier, or similar device that produces an image or text on paper and that uses disposable toner cartridges.

AB915,2,6 (c) "Starter cartridge" means a toner cartridge that is intended for use with a printing device and that has a capacity substantially less than the capacity of the highest-capacity toner cartridge specified by the manufacturer of the printing device for use with the printing device.

AB915,2,8 (2) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no person may sell a new printing device with a starter cartridge.

AB915,2,10 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to a printing device if all of the following are clearly and conspicuously disclosed on the printing device's packaging:

AB915,2,11 1. The capacity of the toner cartridge included with the printing device.

AB915,2,13 2. The capacity of the highest-capacity toner cartridge specified by the manufacturer of the printing device for use with the printing device.

AB915, s. 2 Section 2. Initial applicability.

AB915,2,16 (1) This act first applies to sales of printing devices occurring on the effective date of this subsection.

AB915, s. 3 Section 3. Effective date.

AB915,2,19 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 6th month beginning after publication.

AB915,2,20 (End)