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S 3636 112th Congress Senate Finance and Financial Sector Bankruptcy Consumer affairs Retail and wholesale trades

Gift Card Consumer Protection Act of 2012

Introduced: November 26, 2012 Introduced by: Blumenthal, Richard Democratic · Connecticut See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 26, 2012
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Nov 26, 2012
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6895-6896)
Nov 26, 2012
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Gift Card Consumer Protection Act of 2012 - Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to repeal the exclusion from, and so include within, the definitions of "general-use prepaid card," "gift certificate," and "store gift card" a loyalty, award, or promotional gift card (thus extending to the latter the same consumer protections).

Repeals exceptions to the prohibitions against: (1) imposition of a dormancy fee, an inactivity fee, or a service fee in connection with a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card; and (2) the sale of gift cards with expiration dates. (Thereby renders such fees and expiration dates unlawful without exception.)

Makes it unlawful for a person that has filed for federal bankruptcy protection to either sell, resell, issue, or reissue a gift certificate or store gift card.

Amends federal bankruptcy law to declare that the filing of a petition in bankruptcy shall not operate as a stay against the presentation or redemption of a gift certificate or store gift card at full value.

Requires the trustee in bankruptcy, if the debtor's business is authorized to be operated, unless the court orders otherwise, to: (1) honor at full value a gift certificate or store gift card issued by the debtor, and (2) treat the gift certificate or gift card the same as cash.

What's happening now November 26, 2012

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1