HB 5312 — AN ACT CONCERNING ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CURRENCY AS PAYMENT IN LOCAL BUSINESSES.

Substitute House ofBill Representatives File No.

7225312 GeneralPublic AssemblyAct January Session, 2021(Reprint of File No.

5)21-60 SubstituteAN HouseACT BillCONCERNING No.ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CURRENCY AS PAYMENT IN LOCAL BUSINESSES.

5312 As Amended by House Amendment Schedule "A" Approved by the Legislative Commissioner May 26, 2021 AN ACT CONCERNING ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CURRENCY AS PAYMENT IN LOCAL BUSINESSES.

sHB5312(b) /A Fileperson No.selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail in this state shall not:

722 sHB5312 File No.

722 (b) A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail in this state shall not:

(c)Substitute TheHouse CommissionerBill ofNo. Consumer Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement the provisions of this section.

This5312 act(c) shallThe takeCommissioner effectof asConsumer followsProtection andmay shalladopt amendregulations, in accordance with chapter 54 of the followinggeneral sections:statutes, to implement the provisions of this section.

SectionApproved 1June October16, 1, 2021 NewPublic sectionAct sHB5312 / File No.

72221-60 2 sHB5312of File2 No.

722 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill allows the Department of Consumer Protection to adopt regulations regarding acceptable forms of currency as payment and results in no fiscal impact because the department has the expertise to meet the requirements of the bill.

House "A" strikes the underlying bill and its associated fiscal impact resulting in the impact described above.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sHB5312 / File No.

722 3 sHB5312 File No.

722 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5312 (as amended by House "A")* AN ACT CONCERNING ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CURRENCY AS PAYMENT IN LOCAL BUSINESSES.

SUMMARY With exceptions, this bill prohibits retailers from (1) refusing cash as a form of payment, (2) posting signs stating that cash is not accepted, or (3) charging a higher price to customers who pay with cash.

“Cash” means legal tender.

The bill’s prohibitions apply to retailers selling goods or services in person, except for transactions:

1.

for parking at parking lots and parking garages;

2.

at membership-based wholesale clubs offering consumer goods or services;

3.

at membership-based retail stores offering consumer goods that require payment through an affiliated mobile device application;

4.

for consumer goods, services, or accommodations rentals that typically require posting collateral or security;

and 5.

for consumer goods or services provided exclusively to employees and other non-customers authorized to be on the employer’s premises.

The bill also explicitly exempts transactions conducted by telephone, mail, or the internet.

Under the bill, the consumer protection commissioner may adopt sHB5312 / File No.

722 4 sHB5312 File No.

722 implementing regulations.