General Law Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-693
AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO CONSUMER PROTECTION
Title: STATUTES.
Vote Date: 3/23/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 2/18/2021
File No.: 355
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
General Law Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill will add additional protections to DCP regulations regarding health club memberships
and automobile lemon laws. It changes the health club requirements to allowing members to
cancel memberships by email and not certified mail or registered mail. In addition, the
automatic renewal notice must be given to members 45 to 60 days prior to the renewal date.
Regarding the automobile lemon law, it will require that manufacturers that buy back a
vehicle stamp the title with Manufacturer buyback-lemon instead of Manufacturer buyback as
it currently can do. The DCP also can impose a fine of $10,000 for manufacturers who do not
stamp the title appropriately within 10 days of receipt. In addition to the $10,000 fine, DCP
can fine $1,000 per day until the manufacturer conforms to the date imposed by an arbitrator.
Manufacturers will have the ability to appeal the fines under the Uniform Administrative
Procedure Act.
Potential buyers must be notified if the seller has filed a Lemon Law application even if it is
pending. Lemon Law fees will be paid the to the DCP by March 31. Both changes to the
DCP regulations will further protect the consumer.
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE
Section 2 deletes the 45 to 60-day requirement and instead allows health clubs print the
automatic renewal on the first page of the renewal on the contract.
Lemon-Law provisions lines 221, 232 changed the time that manufacturers can stamp the
title from 10 days to within 30 days.
Section 3 and 4 added the ability for aggrieved manufacturers to ask for a hearing.
Section 3 allows DCP to adopt the necessary regulations implemented in this section.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Michelle Seagull, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Commissioner Seagull supports this bill. This bill would revise various sections of CGS
Chapters 420 and 743b, which address regulation of health clubs and new auto warranties to
further protect consumers. It also makes statutory changes to better ensure that automobile
dealers comply with the New Automobile Surcharge.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association
CARA new car dealers are an important part of the administration of CT lemon law program.
The DCP funds the administration of the lemon law program with a state fee that dealers
collect at the time of the sale. We would like to offer support for Sec. 5 of the bill which
requires the lemon law fee be submitted to the DCP in a lump sum by March 31 st each year.
This gives uniformity and guidance to the dealers responsible for collecting the fee.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
David Humphrey, ECP, PF Holdings Group, Inc.
Mr. Humphrey gives partial support for this bill. He can support Section 1 of the bill; but
cannot support Section 2. Section 2 appears to be intended to offer health club members
safeguards against being taken advantage of as it relates to automatic renewals, the changes
in Sec. 2 are unnecessary and overburdensome to the health club, given current statute
already provides robust protection in favor of its members.
Jeff Perkins, Associate Vice President of Government Relations, International Health,
Racquet & Sportsclub Association
Mr. Perkins is in opposition to this bill. The notification requirements imposed in SB693
would pose an administrative and financial challenge to health clubs in processing numerous
renewals. Many smaller health clubs do not have the technology infrastructure to help meet
the requirement. Mr. Perkins requests that SB693 be amended to remove the notification
requirements for health clubs.
Wayne Weikel, Senior Director, Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Mr. Wiekel is in opposition to this bill. Lemon Laws are consumer protections statutes that
provide safeguards above the automobiles warranty. The amount of time that the DCP can
impose the fines is 10 days from receipt, one of our concerns is that delays in complying is
not within the automakers control. Staff from the DCP have been gracious enough with their
time to allow us to discuss some of our issues.
Reported by: Bonnie Gray, Asst. Clerk Date: 3/30/21
Page 2 of 3 SB-693
Page 3 of 3 SB-693


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 42-179, 42-181, 42-190
GL Joint Favorable Substitute: 42-179, 42-181, 42-190
File No. 355: 42-179, 42-181, 42-190
JUD Joint Favorable: 42-179, 42-181, 42-190