HBA-CCH H.B. 1034 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1034 By: Thompson Business & Industry 2/19/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Some advertisements for television satellite services or equipment, cable services, and wireless telephone services contain small type or incomplete information about the costs of services and equipment. This can make it difficult for an individual to read the information and for the individual to obtain the accurate pricing information. House Bill 1034 prohibits a person from displaying or publishing information regarding the costs of these services or equipment unless the information is made conspicuous, complete, and clear. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1034 amends the Business & Commerce Code relating to a person who sells or provides to another person in this state, a satellite or cable television service, wireless telephone or wireless telephone service, Internet access service provided by use of a wireless telephone, a satellite television receiver dish, a satellite or cable television receiver or decoder, or some other equipment in conjunction with these services. H.B. 1034 prohibits a person from displaying or publishing information regarding the price for the service and equipment within a written advertisement unless the price information is printed in at least 11-point type that is boldfaced, capitalized, underlined, set within a bordered area, or made conspicuous some other way. The bill further provides that the information must be complete and clear regarding service or equipment charges or penalties the consumer may incur. A person who violates a provision is liable to the state for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation and for each day of a continuing violation. The bill authorizes the attorney general or prosecuting attorney in the county in which the violation occurred to bring suit to recover the civil penalty. The attorney general may also bring an action in the name of the state to restrain or enjoin a person from violating this provision. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.