07 LC 28
3208
Senate
Bill 207
By:
Senator Thompson of the 5th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to sale of petroleum products, so as to require the
establishment by the Department of Agriculture of an Internet website for
gasoline prices; to require that gasoline dealers post prices for gasoline on
such website within certain periods of time; to provide for penalties for
failing to post such prices and posting incorrect prices; to provide for certain
required features of such website; to provide for the establishment of a
toll-free number to obtain such information; to provide for enforcement by the
Department of Agriculture; to provide for the promulgation of rules and
regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
1 of Article 8 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to sale of petroleum products, is amended by adding a new
Code Section 10-1-170 to read as follows:
"10-1-170.
(a)
The Department of Agriculture shall establish an Internet website for the
purpose of posting the price of gasoline charged by the gasoline dealers in this
state. Such website shall display the price charged for gasoline by each
gasoline dealer at each location in this state at which gasoline is offered for
retail sale for each grade of gasoline offered for sale. Such website shall be
designed in a manner that a person using such website may search for gasoline
dealers by ZIP Code as well as other such criteria as may be determined by the
Department of Agriculture to make such website useful for the
public.
(b)
Each gasoline dealer in this state shall, within two hours of a change in price
in the gasoline offered for retail sale by such dealer, update or cause to be
updated such information on the website established under subsection (a) of this
Code section.
(c)
Each gasoline dealer who fails to post or to update timely the prices for
gasoline offered for retail sale by such dealer or who posts incorrect prices
for such gasoline shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of $1,000.00
for each violation. The provisions of this subsection shall be enforced by the
Department of Agriculture.
(d)
Any gasoline dealer who intentionally or knowingly posts incorrect prices for
gasoline offered for retail sale by such dealer with the intent to deceive the
public shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated
nature.
(e)
Any person who, without authorization, tampers with such website, posts prices
on such website, or in any manner interferes with such website shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
(f)
The Department of Agriculture shall also establish a toll-free telephone number
by which members of the public may obtain the information contained on such
website.
(g)
The Department of Agriculture shall be authorized to promulgate such rules and
regulations as it deems necessary to implement the provisions of this Code
section."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.