E-Warranty Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3154
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2]
Introduced: 2015-07-22
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Product safety and quality

Retail and wholesale trades
Latest action: action_date: 2015-09-08
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 184.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-22
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>E-Warranty Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Amends the Magnuson-Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to revise its rules to allow manufacturers to satisfy requirements concerning the availability of written warranties on consumer products by making the terms accessible in a digital format on the manufacturer's Internet website. Requires the product, packaging, or product manual in the case of a warranty provided on a website in such manner to display to the consumer: (1) the website where the warranty terms can be obtained; and (2) a phone number, postal address, or other reasonable non-Internet based means of contacting the manufacturer to obtain and review such terms.</p> <p>Prohibits such Internet website warranties from satisfying any requirement that a warranty be made available prior to sale in a retail location, by catalog, or through door-to-door sales, unless the seller makes the warranty available, through electronic or other means, at the location of the sale before the purchase.</p>

action_date: 2015-09-08
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><b>E-Warranty Act of 2015</b></p> <p>(Sec. 3) Amends the Magnuson-Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to revise its rules to allow manufacturers to satisfy requirements concerning the availability of written warranties on consumer products by making the terms accessible in a digital format on the manufacturer's Internet website. Requires the product, packaging, or product manual in the case of a warranty provided on a website in such manner to display to the consumer: (1) the website where the warranty terms can be obtained; and (2) a phone number, postal address, or other reasonable non-Internet based means of contacting the manufacturer to obtain and review such terms.</p> <p>Prohibits such Internet website warranties from satisfying any requirement that a warranty be made available prior to sale in a retail location, by catalog, or through door-to-door sales, unless the seller makes the warranty available, through electronic or other means, at the location of the sale before the purchase.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3154 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 22, 2015 Mr. Mullin (for himself and Mr. Loebsack ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To allow manufacturers to meet warranty and labeling requirements for consumer products by displaying the terms of warranties on Internet websites, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the E-Warranty Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Many manufacturers and consumers prefer to have the option to provide or receive warranty information online. (2) Modernizing warranty notification rules is necessary to allow the United States to continue to compete globally in manufacturing, trade, and the development of consumer products connected to the Internet. (3) Allowing an electronic warranty option would expand consumer access to relevant consumer information in an environmentally friendly way, and would provide additional flexibility to manufacturers to meet their labeling and warranty requirements. 3. Electronic display of terms of written warranty for consumer products (a) In general Section 102(b) of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty—Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2302(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the rules prescribed under this subsection shall allow for the satisfaction of all requirements concerning the availability of terms of a written warranty on a consumer product under this subsection by— (i) making available such terms in an accessible digital format on the Internet website of the manufacturer of the consumer product in a clear and conspicuous manner; and (ii) providing to the consumer (or prospective consumer) information with respect to how to obtain and review such terms by indicating on the product or product packaging or in the product manual— (I) the Internet website of the manufacturer where such terms can be obtained and reviewed; and (II) the phone number of the manufacturer, the postal mailing address of the manufacturer, or another reasonable non-Internet based means of contacting the manufacturer to obtain and review such terms. (B) With respect to any requirement that the terms of any written warranty for a consumer product be made available to the consumer (or prospective consumer) prior to sale of the product, in a case in which a consumer product is offered for sale in a retail location, by catalog, or through door-to-door sales, subparagraph (A) shall only apply if the seller makes available, through electronic or other means, at the location of the sale to the consumer purchasing the consumer product the terms of the warranty for the consumer product before the purchase. . (b) Revision of rules (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall revise the rules prescribed under such section to comply with the requirements of paragraph (4) of such section, as added by subsection (a) of this section. (2) Authority to waive requirement for oral presentation In revising rules under paragraph (1), the Federal Trade Commission may waive the requirement of section 109(a) of such Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2309(a) ) to give interested persons an opportunity for oral presentation if the Commission determines that giving interested persons such opportunity would interfere with the ability of the Commission to revise rules under paragraph (1) in a timely manner.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 184 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3154 [Report No. 114–243] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 22, 2015 Mr. Mullin (for himself and Mr. Loebsack ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce September 8, 2015 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To allow manufacturers to meet warranty and labeling requirements for consumer products by displaying the terms of warranties on Internet websites, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the E-Warranty Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Many manufacturers and consumers prefer to have the option to provide or receive warranty information online. (2) Modernizing warranty notification rules is necessary to allow the United States to continue to compete globally in manufacturing, trade, and the development of consumer products connected to the Internet. (3) Allowing an electronic warranty option would expand consumer access to relevant consumer information in an environmentally friendly way, and would provide additional flexibility to manufacturers to meet their labeling and warranty requirements. 3. Electronic display of terms of written warranty for consumer products (a) In general Section 102(b) of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty—Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2302(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the rules prescribed under this subsection shall allow for the satisfaction of all requirements concerning the availability of terms of a written warranty on a consumer product under this subsection by— (i) making available such terms in an accessible digital format on the Internet website of the manufacturer of the consumer product in a clear and conspicuous manner; and (ii) providing to the consumer (or prospective consumer) information with respect to how to obtain and review such terms by indicating on the product or product packaging or in the product manual— (I) the Internet website of the manufacturer where such terms can be obtained and reviewed; and (II) the phone number of the manufacturer, the postal mailing address of the manufacturer, or another reasonable non-Internet based means of contacting the manufacturer to obtain and review such terms. (B) With respect to any requirement that the terms of any written warranty for a consumer product be made available to the consumer (or prospective consumer) prior to sale of the product, in a case in which a consumer product is offered for sale in a retail location, by catalog, or through door-to-door sales, subparagraph (A) shall only apply if the seller makes available, through electronic or other means, at the location of the sale to the consumer purchasing the consumer product the terms of the warranty for the consumer product before the purchase. . (b) Revision of rules (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall revise the rules prescribed under such section to comply with the requirements of paragraph (4) of such section, as added by subsection (a) of this section. (2) Authority to waive requirement for oral presentation In revising rules under paragraph (1), the Federal Trade Commission may waive the requirement of section 109(a) of such Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2309(a) ) to give interested persons an opportunity for oral presentation if the Commission determines that giving interested persons such opportunity would interfere with the ability of the Commission to revise rules under paragraph (1) in a timely manner.

September 8, 2015 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed