BILL NUMBER: SB 411	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Ducheny

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 17701 of the Business and Professions
Code, relating to coupons.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 411, as introduced, Ducheny. Coupons.
   Existing law prohibits a person from issuing a coupon, as defined,
unless the person is the individual issuing the coupon, a member of
an association issuing the coupon, or a person engaged in the
business of issuing coupons, and specified information is included on
the coupon. Existing law requires a coupon issued by a member or
members of an association to include the name and address of the
principal place of business of the association. Existing law makes a
violation of those provisions a misdemeanor.
   This bill would additionally require a coupon issued by a member
or members of an association to include an Internet Web site address.
The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that
provision. Because a violation of that requirement would constitute a
misdemeanor, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 17701 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   17701.  It is unlawful for any person to issue  coupons
  a coupon  unless there  shall be
  is  specified in or upon  such coupons
  that coupon  , specifically or by class, the
person by whom or with whom  such   that 
coupon is exchangeable or redeemable, and unless  such
  that  person  specified  is
 either   one of the following  :
   (a) The person issuing  such   the 
coupon  . 
   (b)  Member   A member  or members of an
association issuing  such   the  coupon
 ,  which association shall be a bona fide organization in
existence for a period of at least six months prior to issuing
 such   the  coupon. The name and address
by street and number of the principal place of business of the
association  and an Internet Web site address  shall also be
specified in or upon  such   the  coupon
 . 
   (c) A person engaged in the business of issuing coupons for use or
distribution by  itself   himself or herself
 or by  any  other  persons  
person  .
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.