Raised Bill No. 139 - Consumer Protection Statutes

• Limits health club contracts to a maximum of 24 months and requires clubs offering contracts longer than 12 months to also offer 12-month contracts; restricts advance payment to 50% of contract cost for contracts over 12 months, with remainder collected monthly.

• Requires written notice of automatic renewal clauses at time of contract signing; limits auto-renewal to one-month periods with written notice 45-60 days before expiration and requires affirmative written acceptance for renewals.

• Strengthens motor vehicle lemon law protections by defining consumer eligibility, presuming a reasonable number of repair attempts after 4 repairs of the same defect or 30+ days out of service, and requiring manufacturers to refund full contract price plus collateral charges and incidental damages if repairs fail.

• Requires manufacturers to stamp "MANUFACTURER BUYBACK-LEMON" on vehicle titles within 10 days of accepting return; establishes $10,000 fine for non-compliance, with funds deposited to new automobile warranties account.

• Creates independent arbitration procedure through Department of Consumer Protection with $50 consumer filing fee and $250 manufacturer fee; permits arbitrators to award replacement vehicles, full refunds, or incidental damages; imposes $1,000 per day fine on manufacturers failing to comply with arbitration awards.

• Establishes $3 per-vehicle surcharge on new motor vehicle sales/leases to fund the new automobile warranties account; dealers must remit annual surcharges by March 31 each year.