Dyson & Gara Began Work On Measure in 1998.
http://www.akdemocrats.org/Documents/051004_leg_passes_consumer_protection_bill.pdfAdditional information: Gara
JUNEAU – Today the Senate passed a bill that significantly bolsters the State's ability to protect consumers. The bill, HB 56, has been carried by Senator Fred Dyson (R. Eagle River) and Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage). It strengthens the state's ability to represent Alaskans who have been victimized by fraudulent business practices, whether by used car dealers, telemarketers, or others who prey on Alaska's consumers. It does so while actually saving the state money. Sen. Dyson and Rep. Gara, along with Rep. Croft, crafted this measure after meetings with seniors and other consumer advocates in 1998.
Currently victims of consumer fraud can contact the State's Attorney General's Office for help. However, due to budget constraints, the State cannot help many such victims. As Sen. Dyson noted on the Senate Floor, the state has "one of the smallest consumer fraud units in the nation." As a result, in 2001, roughly half of all Alaskans who complained of consumer law violations were turned away. This bill will help bolster the state's consumer enforcement efforts at no cost to the state.
HB 56 changes the law to allow the state to recover its full enforcement, investigation and court costs if it prevails against a party that has violated Alaska's consumer protection laws.
The public policies behind this bill are simple: Those who engage in unfair business practices should not force the state to bear the costs of their misconduct. Moreover, by
allowing the state to recover not only the existing penalties that are available under state law, but it's enforcement costs, the law will help fund a more vibrant, more cost-effective
consumer protection presence in Alaska.