HB2448 Summary

• Requires prospective franchisees to obtain counseling from a third-party counselor approved by the Attorney General before purchasing a franchise.

• Mandates franchisors provide prospective franchisees with a list of approved third-party counselors and requires franchisees to execute a counseling certificate documenting the counseling received.

• Establishes qualification standards and uniform counseling protocols for third-party counselors covering financial implications, dispute resolution mechanisms, and other information determined by the Attorney General.

• Renames the "Child Labor and Day and Temporary Labor Services Enforcement Fund" to the "Child Labor, Franchise Disclosure, and Day and Temporary Labor Services Enforcement Fund" and dedicates fees from franchise registrations to support counseling and disclosure activities.

• Adds provisions making false or fraudulently obtained counseling certificates grounds for the Attorney General to deny or suspend franchise registration.