SB2907eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2907 Engrossed LRB093 15217 WGH 40813 b

AN ACT concerning consumer protection.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 4-601 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/4-601 new)

Sec. 4-601. Consumer protection laws.

(a) The General Assembly finds that consumer protection is vital to the health, safety, and welfare of Illinois consumers.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission and its staff shall:

(1) work cooperatively with law enforcement authorities, including the Attorney General and State's Attorneys, in their enforcement of consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act;

(2) provide any materials or documents already in the Commission's possession requested by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney pertaining to the enforcement of consumer protection laws; any materials or documents that are proprietary shall not be made public unless the designation as proprietary has been removed by a court or legal body of competent jurisdiction, or the agreement of the parties; and

(3) upon written request, forward any complaints regarding alleged violations of any consumer protection law to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney of the appropriate county or counties.

(c) Subject to subdivision (1) of Section 10b of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, the Attorney General and the State's Attorney of any county shall have available all remedies and authority granted to them by the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. The remedies for violations of this Act and its rules are not intended to replace other remedies that may be imposed for violations of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, such other remedies, nor is this Act intended to remove any statutorily defined defenses.

Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by adding Section 10d as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/10d new)

Sec. 10d. Public Utilities Act; Illinois Commerce Commission.

(a) The General Assembly finds that consumer protection is vital to the health, safety, and welfare of Illinois consumers.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Illinois Commerce Commission and its staff shall:

(1) work cooperatively with law enforcement authorities, including the Attorney General and State's Attorneys, in their enforcement of consumer protection laws, including this Act;

(2) provide any materials or documents already in the Commission's possession requested by the Attorney General or a State's Attorney pertaining to the enforcement of consumer protection laws; any materials or documents that are proprietary shall not be made public unless the designation as proprietary has been removed by a court or legal body of competent jurisdiction, or the agreement of the parties; and

(3) upon written request, forward any complaints regarding alleged violations of any consumer protection law to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney of the appropriate county or counties.

(c) Subject to subdivision (1) of Section 10b of this Act, the Attorney General and the State's Attorney of any county shall have available all remedies and authority granted to them by this Act. The remedies for violations of the Public Utilities Act and its rules are not intended to replace other remedies that may be imposed for violations of this Act and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, such other remedies, nor is this Section intended to remove any statutorily defined defenses.