Existing law, the Parent's Accountability and Child Protection Act, requires a person or business that seeks to sell a specified product or service that is illegal under state law to sell to a minor to take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser is of legal age at the time of purchase or delivery, as prescribed. The act, in an action brought by a public prosecutor, subjects a business or person that violates the act to at least a $7,500 civil penalty for each violation. Existing law requires that the amount in controversy not exceed $35,000 for a limited civil case.
This bill would additionally subject the business or person to the civil penalty for each minor user of the product or service and in an action brought by a parent or legal guardian of a minor. The bill would increase the civil penalty to the maximum amount in controversy for a limited civil case, or 10 or 20 times that amount, as specified. The bill would specify that the civil penalty is in addition to any other available legal remedy. The bill would also require a court to suspend a business or person that violates an injunction issued to enforce the act from conducting business, as specified.

Statutes affected:
SB 659: 1798.99.1 CIV
02/20/25 - Introduced: 1798.99.1 CIV