HB 72 Summary

• Expands private right of action for antitrust violations to allow any person injured directly or indirectly to sue, not just those injured in business or property, and includes state agencies, municipalities, and other governmental entities as eligible plaintiffs.

• Increases criminal penalties for violations of AS 45.50.562 and 45.50.564 from misdemeanor to class C felony, with fines up to $1,000,000 for natural persons and $50,000,000 for non-natural persons.

• Adds new civil penalty authority allowing the attorney general to bring actions for civil penalties of up to $1,000,000 for natural persons and $50,000,000 for non-natural persons in violation of antitrust statutes.

• Grants courts authority to order revocation, forfeiture, or suspension of business charters and licenses, or dissolution of business organizations found to violate antitrust laws.

• Requires persons commencing antitrust actions to notify the attorney general simultaneously with filing complaints and allows use of statistical sampling to prove aggregate damages without proving individual claims.