Sec. 42-230. (Formerly Sec. 21a-78a). Prices during a precipitating event.
Sec. 42-230. (Formerly Sec. 21a-78a). Prices during a precipitating event. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Precipitating event” means (A) a civil preparedness emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to chapter 517, (B) a transportation emergency declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to section 3-6b, or (C) a major disaster or emergency declaration issued by the President of the United States;
(2) “Unconscionably excessive price” means an increased price at which a vendor leases, rents or sells an item during a precipitating event if (A) the increased price is grossly disproportionate to the price at which the vendor leased, rented or sold such item (i) immediately before the precipitating event, or (ii) before the precipitating event was reasonably anticipated, and (B) the increased price is not attributable to additional costs incurred by the vendor in leasing, renting or selling the item during the precipitating event; and
(3) “Vendor” means a person, corporation or firm, including, but not limited to, a distributor, manufacturer, retailer, supplier or wholesaler.
(b) No vendor shall lease, rent or sell, or offer to lease, rent or sell, any item in the chain of distribution at an unconscionably excessive price at any location in an area which is the subject of any precipitating event until the Governor or the President, as applicable, declares such precipitating event to be at an end.
(c) Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b. The Attorney General shall have (1) exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this section on behalf of the state, and (2) for the purposes of this section, the authority to (A) order an investigation or examination pursuant to section 42-110d, or (B) take such other enforcement action under sections 42-110e to 42-110q, inclusive, as the Attorney General deems necessary.
(P.A. 86-339, S. 3; P.A. 02-97, S. 12; P.A. 25-44, S. 5.)
History: Sec. 21a-78a transferred to Sec. 42-230 in 1993; P.A. 02-97 made violation an unfair or deceptive trade practice under Sec. 42-110b(a); P.A. 25-44 substantially revised section including by adding definitions of “precipitating event”, “unconscionably excessive price” and “vendor” in Subsec. (a), adding provisions in Subsec. (b) re chain of distribution and adding provisions in Subsec. (c) re authority of Attorney General, effective July 1, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |