BILL NUMBER: AB 2624	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Medina

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to amend Section 1770 of the Civil Code, and to add Section
17533.75 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to business.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2624, as introduced, Medina. False advertising: Made in North
America.
   Existing law makes unlawful certain acts identified as unfair
methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices
undertaken by any person in a transaction intended to result, or that
results, in the sale or lease of goods to any consumer. Existing law
makes it unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or association
to sell, or offer for sale, merchandise that advertises itself as
being made or manufactured in the United States when any article,
unit, or part of the merchandise has been entirely or substantially
made, manufactured, or produced outside of the United States.
Existing law makes a violation of the latter provision a misdemeanor.

   This bill would make it unlawful for any person, firm,
corporation, or association to sell, or offer for sale, merchandise
that advertises itself as being made or manufactured in North America
unless the merchandise, or any article, unit, or part of the
merchandise has been entirely or substantially made, manufactured,
assembled, processed, or produced in the United States, Canada, or
Mexico. Because a violation of these provisions would be a
misdemeanor, the bill would create a new crime, thus, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
   The bill would additionally include a representation in violation
of these provisions among those acts identified as unfair methods of
competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
   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 17533.75 is added to the Business and
Professions Code, to read:
   17533.75.  (a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation,
or association to sell or offer for sale in this state any
merchandise on which merchandise or on its container there appears
the words "Made in North America," "North American Made," or similar
words unless the merchandise or any article, unit, or part thereof
has been entirely or substantially made, manufactured, assembled,
processed, or produced in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
   (b) For the purposes of this section, "substantially made" means
completed an act that added at least 70 percent of the merchandise's
wholesale value by manufacture, assembly, fabrication, or production
to create the final, recognizable product. "Substantially made" does
not include the act of packaging the product.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1770 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
   1770.  (a) The following unfair methods of competition and unfair
or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by any person in a
transaction intended to result or which results in the sale or lease
of goods or services to any consumer are unlawful:
   (1) Passing off goods or services as those of another.
   (2) Misrepresenting the source, sponsorship, approval, or
certification of goods or services.
   (3) Misrepresenting the affiliation, connection, or association
with, or certification by, another.
   (4) Using deceptive representations or designations of geographic
origin in connection with goods or services.
   (5) Representing that goods or services have sponsorship,
approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities
which they do not have or that a person has a sponsorship, approval,
status, affiliation, or connection which he or she does not have.
   (6) Representing that goods are original or new if they have
deteriorated unreasonably or are altered, reconditioned, reclaimed,
used, or secondhand.
   (7) Representing that goods or services are of a particular
standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style
or model, if they are of another.
   (8) Disparaging the goods, services, or business of another by
false or misleading representation of fact.
   (9) Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as
advertised.
   (10) Advertising goods or services with intent not to supply
reasonably expectable demand, unless the advertisement discloses a
limitation of quantity.
   (11) Advertising furniture without clearly indicating that it is
unassembled if that is the case.
   (12) Advertising the price of unassembled furniture without
clearly indicating the assembled price of that furniture if the same
furniture is available assembled from the seller.
   (13) Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning
reasons for, existence of, or amounts of price reductions.
   (14) Representing that a transaction confers or involves rights,
remedies, or obligations which it does not have or involve, or which
are prohibited by law.
   (15) Representing that a part, replacement, or repair service is
needed when it is not.
   (16) Representing that the subject of a transaction has been
supplied in accordance with a previous representation when it has
not.
   (17) Representing that the consumer will receive a rebate,
discount, or other economic benefit, if the earning of the benefit is
contingent on an event to occur subsequent to the consummation of
the transaction.
   (18) Misrepresenting the authority of a salesperson,
representative, or agent to negotiate the final terms of a
transaction with a consumer.
   (19) Inserting an unconscionable provision in the contract.
   (20) Advertising that a product is being offered at a specific
price plus a specific percentage of that price unless (A) the total
price is set forth in the advertisement, which may include, but is
not limited to, shelf tags, displays, and media advertising, in a
size larger than any other price in that advertisement, and (B) the
specific price plus a specific percentage of that price represents a
markup from the seller's costs or from the wholesale price of the
product. This subdivision shall not apply to in-store advertising by
businesses which are open only to members or cooperative
organizations organized pursuant to Division 3 (commencing with
Section 12000) of Title 1 of the Corporations Code where more than 50
percent of purchases are made at the specific price set forth in the
advertisement.
   (21) Selling or leasing goods in violation of Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 1797.8) of Title 1.7.
   (22) (A) Disseminating an unsolicited prerecorded message by
telephone without an unrecorded, natural voice first informing the
person answering the telephone of the name of the caller or the
organization being represented, and either the address or the
telephone number of the caller, and without obtaining the consent of
that person to listen to the prerecorded message.
   (B) This subdivision does not apply to a message disseminated to a
business associate, customer, or other person having an established
relationship with the person or organization making the call, to a
call for the purpose of collecting an existing obligation, or to any
call generated at the request of the recipient.
   (23) The home solicitation, as defined in subdivision (h) of
Section 1761, of a consumer who is a senior citizen where a loan is
made encumbering the primary residence of that consumer for the
purposes of paying for home improvements and where the transaction is
part of a pattern or practice in violation of either subsection (h)
or (i) of Section 1639 of Title 15 of the United States Code or
paragraph (e) of Section 226.32 of Title 12 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.
   A third party shall not be liable under this subdivision unless
(A) there was an agency relationship between the party who engaged in
home solicitation and the third party or (B) the third party had
actual knowledge of, or participated in, the unfair or deceptive
transaction. A third party who is a holder in due course under a home
solicitation transaction shall not be liable under this subdivision.

   (24) (A) Charging or receiving an unreasonable fee to prepare,
aid, or advise any prospective applicant, applicant, or recipient in
the procurement, maintenance, or securing of public social services.
   (B) For purposes of this paragraph, the following definitions
shall apply:
   (i) "Public social services" means those activities and functions
of state and local government administered or supervised by the State
Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Public
Health, or the State Department of Social Services, and involved in
providing aid or services, or both, including health care services,
and medical assistance, to those persons who, because of their
economic circumstances or social condition, are in need of that aid
or those services and may benefit from them.
   (ii) "Public social services" also includes activities and
functions administered or supervised by the United States Department
of Veterans Affairs or the California Department of Veterans Affairs
involved in providing aid or services, or both, to veterans,
including pension benefits.
   (iii) "Unreasonable fee" means a fee that is exorbitant and
disproportionate to the services performed. Factors to be considered,
when appropriate, in determining the reasonableness of a fee, are
based on the circumstances existing at the time of the service and
shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
   (I) The time and effort required.
   (II) The novelty and difficulty of the services.
   (III) The skill required to perform the services.
   (IV) The nature and length of the professional relationship.
   (V) The experience, reputation, and ability of the person
providing the services.
   (C) This paragraph shall not apply to attorneys licensed to
practice law in California, who are subject to the California Rules
of Professional Conduct and to the mandatory fee arbitration
provisions of Article 13 (commencing with Section 6200) of Chapter 4
of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, when the fees
charged or received are for providing representation in
administrative agency appeal proceedings or court proceedings for
purposes of procuring, maintaining, or securing public social
services on behalf of a person or group of persons.
   (25) (A) Advertising or promoting any event, presentation,
seminar, workshop, or other public gathering regarding veterans'
benefits or entitlements that does not include the following
statement in the same type size and font as the term "veteran" or any
variation of that term:
   (i) "I am not authorized to file an initial application for
Veterans' Aid and Attendance benefits on your behalf, or to represent
you before the Board of Veterans' Appeals within the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs in any proceeding on any matter,
including an application for such benefits. It would be illegal for
me to accept a fee for preparing that application on your behalf."
The requirements of this clause do not apply to a person licensed to
act as an agent or attorney in proceedings before the Agency of
Original Jurisdiction and the Board of Veterans' Appeals within the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs when that person is
offering those services at the advertised event.
   (ii) The statement in clause (i) shall also be disseminated, both
orally and in writing, at the beginning of any event, presentation,
seminar, workshop, or public gathering regarding veterans' benefits
or entitlements.
   (B) Advertising or promoting any event, presentation, seminar,
workshop, or other public gathering regarding veterans' benefits or
entitlements which is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the California
Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other congressionally
chartered or recognized organization of honorably discharged members
of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any of their auxiliaries
that does not include the following statement, in the same type size
and font as the term "veteran" or the variation of that term:

   "This event is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Department of
Veterans Affairs, or any other congressionally chartered or
recognized organization of honorably discharged members of the Armed
Forces of the United States, or any of their auxiliaries. None of the
insurance products promoted at this sales event are endorsed by
those organizations, all of which offer free advice to veterans about
how to qualify and apply for benefits."

   (i) The statement in this subparagraph shall be disseminated, both
orally and in writing, at the beginning of any event, presentation,
seminar, workshop, or public gathering regarding veterans' benefits
or entitlements.
   (ii) The requirements of this subparagraph shall not apply in a
case where the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the
California Department of Veterans Affairs, or other congressionally
chartered or recognized organization of honorably discharged members
of the Armed Forces of the United States, or any of their auxiliaries
have granted written permission to the advertiser or promoter for
the use of its name, symbol, or insignia to advertise or promote the
event, presentation, seminar, workshop, or other public gathering.
   (26) Representing that a product is made in California by using a
Made in California label created pursuant to Section 12098.10 of the
Government Code, unless the product complies with Section 12098.10 of
the Government Code. 
   (27) Representing that a product is made in North America in
violation of Section 17533.75 of the Business and Professions Code.

   (b) (1) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice for a
mortgage broker or lender, directly or indirectly, to use a home
improvement contractor to negotiate the terms of any loan that is
secured, whether in whole or in part, by the residence of the
borrower and which is used to finance a home improvement contract or
any portion thereof. For purposes of this subdivision, "mortgage
broker or lender" includes a finance lender licensed pursuant to the
California Finance Lenders Law (Division 9 (commencing with Section
22000) of the Financial Code), a residential mortgage lender licensed
pursuant to the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act
(Division 20 (commencing with Section 50000) of the Financial Code),
or a real estate broker licensed under the Real Estate Law (Division
4 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Business and Professions
Code).
   (2) This section shall not be construed to either authorize or
prohibit a home improvement contractor from referring a consumer to a
mortgage broker or lender by this subdivision. However, a home
improvement contractor may refer a consumer to a mortgage lender or
broker if that referral does not violate Section 7157 of the Business
and Professions Code or any other provision of law. A mortgage
lender or broker may purchase an executed home improvement contract
if that purchase does not violate Section 7157 of the Business and
Professions Code or any other provision of law. Nothing in this
paragraph shall have any effect on the application of Chapter 1
(commencing with Section 1801) of Title 2 to a home improvement
transaction or the financing thereof.
  SEC. 3.  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.